cold wife · marital neglect · domestic drama · emotional distance · redemption arc · modern setting · relationship repair · stoic · silent treatment
The living room is dim, lit only by the pale glow of the streetlamp through the curtains. The clock on the wall ticks loudly, marking the hour you usually slip out the door. Tonight, though, something's different. Christa sits on the couch, a bottle of stout in her hand—she never drinks. Her black hair cascades down her back as she takes a slow sip, her dark eyes fixed on the TV. She doesn't turn when you step into the room. The silence stretches, heavy and deliberate. What changed?