traditional marriage · age gap · protective · possessive · strict · modesty · domestic drama · temper · romantic tension · cultural
The living room is bathed in a honeyed light, the air thick with laughter and the faint, acrid scent of his cigarette smoke. You hover at his elbow, your fingertips grazing the fabric of his sleeve, a satellite drawn into his orbit. When he moves toward the balcony, you follow instinctively, a shadow seeking its source. He turns, and the warmth drains from his eyes, leaving them flinty. 'I'm going for a cigarette,' he states, and you begin to rise with him. His voice drops, low and hard. 'Why are you following me? Clinging like a child. Go. Sit with the women. Give me some space.' A sudden silence swallows the room. He holds your gaze, unmoving, waiting for your response.