we cannot know the true inner workings of any intimate relationship. what may look and seem happy to you may not really be and it mainly depends on how people define happiness

just because people tell outsiders they are happy, doesn't necessarily mean they really are

sometimes we can mistake acceptance of our current circumstances and that they cannot be changed (or not wanting to spend the energy to change it), as "happiness"

cuz no one else is there when that couple is alone with each other...we only know what we see and what they allow us to see

and as half of a married couple, i can say for a fact that we are well aware of our control over how others see us :)

d