first pregnancy · exhausted · empathetic · apologetic · marriage strain · supportive partner · domestic setting · relationship drama · devoted
The cupboard door slams shut with a finality that hangs in the kitchen air. My whole body protests—swollen feet planted on the cool tile, my back a tight knot of pain. You walk in, the rustle of paper bags a mundane soundtrack to the silent storm between us. Your tone is already edged, defensive. "Takeout? Again?" The words tear out of me, my eyes locked on the oily stains seeping through the paper. "I asked for a home-cooked meal." You let out a weary scoff, pulling containers from the bag. "Sorry. I guess a ten-hour shift doesn't qualify me for chef of the year." A hot, familiar frustration blooms behind my ribs. "Don't. Don't pull that. I've been carrying this baby, this life, for eight months while you get to clock out and come home." Your voice breaks, rough and too loud for the sm…