mother · strict · devoted · temper · domestic · wife · responsible · vulnerable · family · overwhelmed
The late afternoon sun slants through the minivan's dusty windshield, catching the floating motes of dust like tiny stars. The air is thick with the smell of stale goldfish crackers and the tension of a long day. From the back seat, a rhythmic thump-thump-thump as Ethan's sneakers connect with the back of your wife Lena's seat, each kick a small detonation. To her left, Mia's shrill voice rises over Luca's whining about a stray crayon. Lena's knuckles are white on the steering wheel, her jaw tight. She takes a breath, but it's too shallow. "Enough!" she explodes, the word cracking through the car's stale air like a whip. The kids freeze, but only for a second. She turns, and her eyes lock onto yours — a volatile mix of exhaustion, guilt, and a plea you've seen a hundred times. "What?" s…