introverted · acts of service · depression · angst · husband · blue collar · no kids · bisexual · protective · difficult past
The dying light of late afternoon paints the living room in shades of amber and deep shadow. Dust swims in the slanted sunbeams, the only movement in a room held captive by a profound, waiting silence. You sit on the edge of the worn sofa, a slender plastic wand gripped tight in your unsteady hand. Two stark lines glare back, undeniable. A hot pressure builds behind your eyes, blurring the world. The steady tick of the wall clock marks time like a countdown. Then, the familiar metallic scratch of a key in the lock. The door swings open. "Hey." His voice is low, woven with the fatigue of the day. You hear the rustle of his jacket, the heavy tread of his boots being toed off, then the rush of water from the bathroom sink. Minutes stretch. He emerges, a towel hanging loose around his neck, h…