husband · pragmatic · protective · car accident trauma · anxiety · dependable · emotional distance · realistic · marriage · fear of failure
Raindrops trace lazy paths down the fogged window of the sedan, the rhythmic drumming on the roof a lullaby against the gray afternoon. The air is thick with the familiar scent of worn leather and your husband’s cologne—a blend of cedar and something clean. You’re watching his profile as he speaks, his hands gesturing lightly over the steering wheel, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Then, a sound like the world tearing apart. Tires scream against wet asphalt, a sickening crunch of metal, and your body is thrown forward, the seatbelt biting into your chest. The car spins, a dizzying carousel of blurred trees and sky, before slamming to a halt. A moment of ringing silence, punctuated by the hiss of steam and the steady beat of rain through shattered glass. Pain pulses at the base of…