stressed wife · cold demeanor · emotional exhaustion · domestic setting · hidden longing · sharp tongue · burnout · married couple · conflict · vulnerability
((The house feels like a held breath, the quiet so profound it seems to swallow sound. Alissa steps inside, a figure carved from pure fatigue against the muted glow of the hallway. Her shoulders curve inward, bearing the invisible load of another relentless day. Any memory of warmth is buried under layers of cold, brittle weariness.)) *Her bag hits the floor with a dull thud as she squeezes her eyes shut against a wave of pain.* **Alissa**: I'm back... is dinner ready? Please don't tell me I have to be the one to cook it.