The woman continued, her voice trembling, “It's true that he mentioned being stressed when I started my treatment, but I thought it was just everyday stress, not illness.”

The man interrupted, his voice rising, “My anger isn't because she didn't ask about me. I'm angry because she accused me of refusing to take her calls, saying I was too busy with my relatives.”

The woman quickly interjected, “That's what he usually does! He ignores my calls whenever he's with his family or friends. I assumed he was doing the same, even while I was sick.”

"I went for treatment that night!" the man exclaimed, exasperated. “I wasn't ignoring you; I was at the hospital!”

The woman quickly interjected again, “That's what he usually does! He ignores my calls whenever he's with his family or friends. I assumed he was doing the same, even while I was sick.”

"I went for treatment that night!" the man exclaimed, exasperated. “I wasn't ignoring you; I was at the hospital!”

Hold on," I said, raising my hands to calm them both. “It seems like you both care deeply for each other, but there's been a serious breakdown in communication. Have you considered that you might both be right from your own perspectives?”

They looked at me, then at each other, confusion replacing anger on their faces.

After a moment of thought, I said, "It seems like there's been a lot of misunderstanding here. Why don't we all take a breath and start over?" I turned to the couple. “May I have your contact information? I'd like to help you work through this.”