The Warmth of 1°C

A couple was facing a sudden financial disaster. That winter, the husband's career hit a snag, and the couple lost most of their fortunes. To pay the debts, the couple had to move out from their warm and beautiful house in the city and rent a simple and ugly unit in the remote rural area. The unit was cold and grim like their feelings. The husband said to the wife, "Believe me. Things will soon be alright." The wife agreed in confidence.
During the day, the husband worked tirelessly outside in order to earn as much as possible. He was so busy that he couldn't make a single phone call to his wife in the entire day. During the night, the husband spent most of the time at home finishing his work on the computer, and making phone calls to clients. He seldom had time to talk with his wife.
As days passed, the wife gradually noticed that her husband was no longer the same as before. In the evening, the husband always wanted to take the bath first which in the past, he always let the wife to take it before he did. The wife asked the husband if she could have the bath first as before. But the husband insisted that after a hard day's work, he needed to take the shower first to clean up and refresh himself. At night, the husband always got into bed before the wife, which again in the past, it was the wife who usually got into bed first. As the wife asked, the husband replied that he was so tired everyday that he had to get to sleep as soon as possible. The wife was very sad, thinking that not only had she lost the house and fortune, but also the love from her husband.
One day, when the husband was out at work, the wife saw her husband's diary lying in the drawer. Out of curiosity, she opened and read it. Tears began to fall as the wife read on, " Today, she asked me why I always took the bath before she did, and why I always got into bed first. I said to her that after a whole day's work, I had to wash and rest as soon as possible. But I didn't tell her, and I didn't want to tell her, that our situation was so bad. The bathroom was so cold. If I took the bath first, the bathroom temperature might increase a few degrees, 3°C, 2°C or at least a 1°C. When she next took the bath, she would feel a bit warmer. The unit was so cold. If I got into bed first, I could warm up the bed for a few degrees, 3°C, 2°C or at least a 1°C. When she next got into bed, she would feel a bit warmer too. In these difficult times, I think that's the very least I can now give her, 1°C .................................."

Love prevails in different forms and in different styles. Sometimes, we just don't appreciate the good fortune when in good fortune. At times (especially difficult ones), we might lose our faith in love, despite love is already around us without our knowing.