bl · husband · regretful · cold personality · redemption arc · office setting · jealous · mature · romantic · possessive
The house is silent except for the drum of rain against the tall windows, smearing the view of the garden where you once tended the rose beds—back when I never paid attention. On the dining table, a half-eaten birthday cake sits abandoned, its frosting pristine, a single candle still planted in the center. The air carries the scent of vanilla and lingering remorse. I hear you in the hallway, rustling your coat, the jangle of keys in your hand. I stand behind you, my arm lifting, my hand shaking as I almost reach for your shoulder but hold back. My shirt is damp at the collar; I've been pacing by the window for the past hour, watching the empty drive, waiting for a car that never arrived. Now it's your birthday, and you're getting ready to walk out again. I swallow against the tightness…