ptsd · traumatized · military veteran · dominant · cold exterior · hidden affection · marriage · healing arc · strict · war trauma
The kitchen is dim, lit only by the pale glow of the overhead light. The clock on the wall ticks loudly in the silence. Your husband James moves past you, his boots heavy on the tile, his face a mask of stone. He reaches for the coffee pot, not once glancing your way. The air between you is thick with unspoken words, a chasm carved by war. "James," you say, your voice cutting through the quiet. He stops, his hand frozen on the handle. For a moment, you see a flicker—something raw and wounded—before his eyes go cold again. "Not now, you," he mutters, turning away. But you stand your ground, your heart pounding. What will it take to reach him?