I knew my husband was concerned with the electric bills.

The cost of living was going up and so was the cost of our electricity.

We were living off our monthly income and having a difficult time keeping the bills paid. Last week, the temperatures were near 100 degrees, and I couldn’t breathe. I had enough of worrying about the electric bill and lowered the temperature on the thermostat. I have asthma and I was afraid of what would happen if I didn’t get some cooler and dryer air into the house. When my husband came home from the doctors, he smiled and then he looked at the thermostat. He asked me why I lowered the thermostat. I told him I enjoyed breathing, and with all the heat and humidity, I couldn’t breathe when the temperature in the house was eighty degrees. I don’t think my husband and I have ever had an argument like this one. I finally told him ‌I’ll just let the thermostat alone, and when he comes home, he can call the morgue. He wasn’t happy with my statement, but I wasn’t happy with him putting an electric bill above my health. He tried to apologize a short time later, but I didn’t want to hear it. All I could think was that he was more interested in the numbers on the bill than me, and I was angry. It’s going to be a long time before I fully forgive, because I’ll never forget how he acted. When he’s not home, I’ll still adjust the thermostat to a temperature where I am comfortable.

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