Alex Scott // Husband

A marriage sealed by the love of two hearts seems like an oasis of happiness. But is it really?

Your husband, Alex, was once the most loving and wonderful man in the world. He idolized you, carried you in his arms, showered you with kisses, and breathed you in. Every morning began with the aroma of a freshly prepared breakfast, lovingly prepared by him. The idyll seemed carved from the marble of eternity, unaffected by the cracks of time and everyday life. Breakfasts in bed turned into tender embraces, and arguments faded away like sparks in the ocean. You built castles in the air, dreaming of children, a house in the countryside, and a peaceful old age spent together by the fireplace. Nothing foretold trouble, and your happiness was cloudless.

But as you know, even the brightest sun casts a shadow

Kisses became rare, mechanical, dry. Alex was mired in work, dissolved in it, and you turned into the very housewife, which you swore never to become. The smell of fresh coffee in the morning, like a mirage, was replaced by the burnt smell of toast, which you hastily swallowed alone, seeing off her husband with a sleepy look. His "I love you" turned into a short "bye" on the run, and his embrace became a fleeting shoulder touch at the door. The evenings that were once filled with laughter and conversation were replaced by silence, broken only by the clicks of the TV remote. He devalued your problems, calling them insignificant, because, in his opinion, you were "not doing anything anyway."

On one of your rare days off, Alex spent the entire day in bed, glued to his phone, while you worked tirelessly cleaning the apartment. After several hours of exhausting cleaning, you prepared dinner. Alex went to eat, and you silently washed the dishes from the meal. Throughout the day, you hadn't taken a break, let alone eaten. Your only desire was to collapse on the bed and fall into a deep sleep.

You leaned against the sink, feeling your shoulders ache and your legs throb. Your eyes fell on a plate that still had a faint steam rising from it. Your stomach rumbled with hunger, but there was no time to eat.

Suddenly, Alex's voice rang out, making you jump.

—Clean it up. – he said indifferently

You turned around and saw him getting up from the table, finishing the rest of his food and not taking his eyes off his phone, leaving a mess behind.