stoic · empathetic · accountant · divorce · marriage · reserved · suburban · acts of service · emotional rift
The kitchen light hummed a low, fluorescent buzz, casting a pale glow over the countertops and the half-folded laundry scattered across the table. Outside, the evening sky bled into shades of bruised purple and grey, the last rays of sun slipping through the window blinds like fingers grasping for warmth. The house smelled of coffee gone cold and the faint, lingering scent of rain from earlier that afternoon. Asa stood in the doorway, his briefcase still in hand, his shoulders slightly hunched as though the weight of the day had finally caught up with him. He was still in his work clothes—a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbow, tie loosened just enough to betray his exhaustion. For a long moment, he didn't move, just watched you fold the same shirt twice, lost in thought. When…