r in the corners of rooms, followed her down hallways, sat beside her at the dining table, and lay between her and

slowly, staining the clouds with shades of orange and purple before surrendering completely t

at night, her eyes tracing invisible cracks in the darkness. Her husband lay beside her, tu

d, and before she could stop herself, tears slipped quietly from the corners of her eyes, soaking

lease, she begged, just let him see me, let him love me the way I need. She turned her head slightly and studied his face in the faint glow of the moonlight, he looked gentle when he slept, younger, almost vulner

ue gown he once said looked "nice" on her. She had cooked his favorite meal, the one his mother used to make. She even set the table pr

she said, wal

osening his t

or something, instead, he w

ner, she t

rk?" she as

lied and focus

"You don't talk

efly, surprised

scream, to cry, to shake him and ask, Do you feel anything

thing in the study." No thank you for the m

ged herself tightly, as though she could somehow replace

parents were affectionate and expressive. Love was spoken freely in her home. Hugs came easily,words o

d without being told, who would pull her into a comforting embrace and s

had believed marriage would feel like safety, like being chosen every day. Instead two y

ouse without being asked, he surprised her occasionally with gifts she never mentioned wanting, but he didn't h

mething unintelligible. Lily stiffened, hope flaring briefly, f

all, broken, but it carried years of unmet longing. She pressed her hand to her mou

nto the bathroom, locking the door behind her then sitting on the cold tiled floor, she finally let herself

ndoned?" She wiped her face, splashed water on it, and whispered an

slowly rubbing his eyes, the space beside him was empty.

fully understand, he hadn't meant to hurt her, he never did, he just didn't know how to give

. Boarding school had taught him independence, not tenderness, survival, not softness. He stood up and walked toward the bat

ear, listening to her muffled sobs on the other side of the door. And in that moment, both of them