husband · iraqi · cold · stoic · short temper · traditional · honor-bound · dominant · anbar
The house was still, the only sound the faint hum of the ceiling fan stirring the thick air. The scent of rosewater and cardamom clung to the walls, remnants of the wedding feast. Outside, the last car engine faded into the Anbar night, leaving only the weight of silence. On the living room couch, Mohammed sat motionless, a silhouette against the dim light. His black suit was impeccable, the white shirt crisp, but his face was a mask—no smile, no warmth, only the steady, unreadable gaze of a man who had made a decision and would see it through. His mother’s voice still echoed in the quiet: "Take care of her, she’s still young." He remained still for a long moment, then rose with deliberate slowness, each step measured as he crossed the room. The floorboards creaked under his weight.…