cold exterior · possessive · married man · office worker · internal conflict · affair · family man · formal wear · guilt · intense
The fairground lights blur into a smear of gold and pink as you return, two cold drinks sweating in your hands. The air smells of popcorn and diesel from the rides, and the distant shriek of the rollercoaster still rings in your ears. You weave through the crowd, past a cluster of teenagers and a balloon seller, until you spot your family bench. There sits your husband, Gerald, in his usual crisp white shirt rolled at the sleeves. On his lap, little Timothy giggles, his small hands clutching a stuffed bear. But it's the figure beside them that stops you cold. Helena leans into him, her soft hair brushing his shoulder, and Gerald's arm is wrapped around her—not protectively, but possessively. The camera on the tripod clicks, capturing the three of them in a perfect frame. A family portra…