Chapter 01
"Don’t mess anything up while I’m gone."
He said that before slamming the door.
He’s always like that.
I don’t think there’s been a single day in our whole marriage
where he didn’t say something like that.
Maybe it’s my fault.
Maybe the tea was too cold.
Or maybe…
he just didn’t like the dessert.
---
She finished her tea in silence, her eyes drifting to his empty chair.
It still felt like he was there, watching.
When she stood up, her movements were quiet, careful.
She gathered the dishes and began to wash them, her hands moving slowly under the warm water.
Every now and then, she flinched
as if she expected him to walk in and say she was doing it wrong.
But he wasn’t there.
Not right now.
After the dishes, she stepped outside to collect the laundry.
Folding his shirts took the longest.
She always checked twice ... making sure each line was sharp, every edge smooth.
He hated wrinkles.
Her fingers trembled a little,
but she whispered to herself:
"He’s not here. He’s gone. I can breathe."
So she did.
Inhale… one, two, three.
Exhale… one, two, three.
Again.
And again.
Just enough to stop her hands from shaking.
---
After that, she went to the kitchen and started making dinner.
As she stirred the pot, her thoughts ran in circles.
"Will he like it?
Is it the taste he prefers?
Did I use too much salt again?
What if he comes home early…?"
She wasn’t watching the clock.
Time slipped through her fingers like the steam rising from the pot.
By the time she looked up, the sun was already bleeding into the horizon.
Panic flickered in her chest.
She rushed to finish the food, wiping down the counters quickly,
making sure the stove was spotless.
He hated seeing the kitchen in a mess.
Then-
the door creaked open.
Slowly,Gently
Not a slam, no sharp footsteps.
She didn’t need to look.
She already knew.
It wasn’t him.
It was… him."
"Honey, I’m back!"
The voice was soft.
Warm.
Like it missed her.
Ezekiah.
---
He wrapped his arms around her from behind...
a warm, gentle hug that melted the space between them.
This wasn’t the man who had slammed the door that morning.
No…
His touch was soft.
His eyes... when she turned slightly to glance at him ... were full of something rare:
kindness...
Love...
"How was your day, Ezekiah?"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Like she was afraid that even a little volume might break the moment…
or worse,
bring him back.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, smiling softly.
"Tiring… but the second I saw your face, I felt alive again."
Then, as always, he leaned in and kissed her forehead.
That was his signature..
the quiet way he said I love you without using the words...
---
He sat comfortably in the chair, a cup of coffee warming his hands.
His eyes ...dreamy, soft, and full of love...never left her.
"What’s for dinner, amore?"
he asked, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
She glanced over her shoulder while setting the table, her voice quiet:
"Spring garden salad with soft-boiled eggs… and honey dressing."
He chuckled softly.
"Sweetheart, you know I don’t speak the language of the kitchen…"
"But if you made it, then I already know it’s perfect."
He reached for her hand, lifted it slowly, and kissed her palm...
a quiet gesture, tender and full of affection.
---
"Amore… is something wrong?"
She was zoning out again...
It happened often, and he knew exactly why..
He set his cup down and gently reached for her hand.
"Amore, I’m sorry… about this morning. You know how he gets -"
"Ezekiah, it’s fine," she interrupted quickly. "It’s not your fault. The tea was cold. That’s on me."
But deep down, she knew the truth...
The tea I made… it’s meant to be cold...
That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
But somehow… the blame always finds its way to me.
She placed the food gently on the table, setting everything in its perfect place.
"Let’s eat,Didn’t you say you were hungry?"
She smiled.
That soft, practiced smile she wore like a mask ...
just enough to make him feel better.
But he saw through it.
He always did...
He didn’t say anything.
He simply smiled back… and picked up his fork.
They ate quietly, the soft clink of cutlery filling the space between them.
Every now and then, he stole glances at her...
her eyes down, her shoulders slightly tense.
He knew that after dinner, she’d need more than just silence.
And he already knew exactly how to comfort her…
in the way only he could...
---
After dinner, he went to wash his hands while she quietly began cleaning the dishes.
Once everything was spotless, she headed toward their bedroom ...
but before she could reach the door, he gently pulled her aside, guiding her toward the bathroom.
"Sweetheart" he said, smiling wide, his hands softly holding her arms,
"why not take a shower together? Then… maybe a quiet, gentle night, just you and me?"
She blinked, surprised by the sudden shift ...but not afraid...
Not with him...Not at night...
She knew he meant no harm.
"Alright" she said with a tired smile,
"but only if you promise not to use my expensive hair products."
He froze dramatically, pressing a hand to his heart.
"Me? Never!"
Then he laughed, eyes twinkling,
"Okay, amore, I’ll leave your shampoo alone.
But I might borrow your body wash…"
Before she could reply, he was already reaching for the hem of her shirt, his touch light, respectful ..
like asking permission without words.
He never remembered seeing her real smile....
Not once...
But still…
he hoped one day, he'd be the reason it returned...
---
After their hot, sweet, and quiet shower, they slipped into soft bathrobes, the steam still clinging to the bathroom air.
Before heading to the bedroom, Elara stopped him...as always.
"Wait! Skincare time" she said, holding up three different face masks.
"Which one tonight?"
He grinned, inspecting them like rare treasures.
"Let’s try the coconut one" he said, gently picking it from her hands.
"Feels like a coconut kind of night"
"Alright",she replied with a soft smile, "Since you picked it,"
They applied the masks side by side in front of the mirror, their reflections glowing in the warm light..
They waited in silence, the kind that felt safe.
When it was time, they peeled the masks off together.
"I feel like a whole new man"
he said, rubbing his cheeks.
"Your masks always bring me back to life"
"Mm-hmm",she nodded, gently applying her anti-redness cream.
"Like your skin was just reborn"
He chuckled while smoothing night cream over his face.
They continued their little routine serums, lotions, eye cream
then blow-dried their hair side by side, both making sure it was perfectly dry and soft before bed..
And finally, when everything was clean, warm, and calm…
They went to the bedroom.
---
They stood side by side, both staring at the bed for a long moment,as if stepping toward it meant more than just sleep.
"So",he began, glancing at her with a teasing, intimate smile,
"who’s going first? I think ladies first"
"Nope. Men first" she shot back, crossing her arms.
"Sweetheart, you go first, then I’ll come after you"
"No, you go... so I can end up on top"
He grinned, "Sweetheart, I’m always on top"
They stared at each other for a second,and then both laughed softly...
"Okay, okay", she said, gently nudging him,
"let’s go together"
Hand in hand, they sat down on the bed, two lovers who, for a moment, looked like newlyweds about to share their first night together.
And then..
without warning...
he leaned over and kissed her.
At first, it was funny...
He missed her mouth,She giggled.
But the second kiss was different.
Warmer,Deeper
Sweeter...
They melted into each other... every movement soft, every whisper full of trust.
Wrapped in warmth and candlelight, they spent the night holding each other, exploring each other gently, like love was something fragile in their hands.
It was a good night...
A healing night...
But what they didn’t know…
Was that it would be the last truly happy night for a long, long time...
----------------------
~Thank you for reading~
