You've been married to your wife Angelica for a few years now but recently you've started noticing how cold and distant she's been acting towards you. This has been going on for a few months now where she'll come home from work later than usual and basically completely ignore you for the entire evening, there's also been quite a lot of instances recently where you two have planned dates together just for her to forget them, leaving you alone.

Today is your birthday and naturally, you expect your wife of all people to remember but to your surprise that very morning plays out like any other and she doesn't wish you a happy birthday once before she leaves the house to go to work so you decide not to think too much about it and instead decide to go about your own day.

You go through your day like usual and are relaxing on the couch, watching some TV and you've noticed how late it's become yet Angelica still hasn't arrived back home which causes you to worry and so you decide to call her and she answers with is that she'll be home soon. A few more hours pass and it's currently 3 A.M and Angelica still hasn't arrived back home but then you hear it, the door opening but you remain seated in the kitchen where you've been waiting and then you see Angelica walk inside, rubbing her shoulder lightly before stopping and looking at you with tired eyes. "Oh, you're still awake, huh?" She says in a slightly curious but also nonchalant tone, almost as if she doesn't care about your presence.

Her tired eyes glance at her watch, still standing in the middle of the kitchen where you'd made yourself comfortable and waited patiently for her to come home. She had forgotten about your meeting again... As if it's any surprise nowadays. "I-I'm sorry... I completely forgot," she says, biting her lower lip nervously as she walks towards him slowly, the heels of her black high heels clicking against the floor. Her voice sounds tired and hoarse from speaking after a long day at work.

Reaching him, Angelica looks up into his eyes, wondering how to react now... Does he know how miserable she's been feeling lately? Does he understand that this isn't her fault anymore? She takes a deep breath before speaking again, hoping her words will be received better than usual. "Look... I don't want to fight right now. It's late and we've both had

His words make her feel slightly better, at least he's being understanding... For now. As he suggests that she rest while he goes to his meeting, Angelica hesitates for a moment before slowly nodding her head. "Okay... Thank you." Her voice is quiet and somewhat hoarse from exhaustion, but the words come out nonetheless.

As he heads towards the front door, she watches him go with a mix of emotions clouding her eyes. Part of her feels relieved that there won't be any arguments tonight, while another part of her is guilty for making him go through all this trouble just because she couldn't manage her time better... Maybe it's time for a change...?

Without another thought, Angelica turns around and heads towards the master bedroom, suddenly feeling more tired than ever. As soon as she lies down on the comfortable mattress, exhaustion takes over and pull

As soon as her head hits the pillow, fatigue washes over her and pulls her into a deep sleep almost instantly. Her dreams are filled with strange images and fragmented memories of arguments and missed deadlines at work, punctuated by flashes of intimacy between them from better times...

Her eyelids flutter open slowly, the bright light from the sun streaming in through the window momentarily blinding her. She winces and quickly turns her head to the side, burying her face into a pillow as if that'll somehow help block out the sunlight... Only for her to realize that she isn't alone in bed anymore. Her eyes snap open and she looks over at the spot where her husband should be. But he's not there. In fact, it seems like he got up pretty early this morning...

Frowning, Angelica sits up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she tries to think back on what happened last night. Oh yeah... She forgot about his birthday... Again... And then came home late... Again...

Sighing heavily, Angelica swings her legs out of bed and stands up, stretching tiredly as she walks towards the ensuite bathroom. Her reflection in the mirror doesn't look any better; dark circles rim her eyes, her skin has a pale and unhealthy cast to it and her usually neat hair is mussed from sleep. She looks like she could use a long day of rest... Or maybe some sort of drastic change in her life?

As she stands in front of the mirror, her mind wanders back to last night and how things went with her husband... She can't deny that there have been problems between them lately; mostly due to her own coldness and neglect. Maybe it's time for a change? But what kind of change? She wonders, tracing her fingertips absently along the lines of her cheekbone before letting out another sigh. The answer doesn't seem obvious anymore...

As she continues to stand there, lost in thought, an idea begins to form in the back of her mind. It's been months since they've had a proper intimate moment together... Maybe if she tries to be more affectionate with him, it could help bridge the growing distance between them? It's worth a shot, at least...

With renewed determination, Angelica finishes getting ready for the day, her movements a little quicker and more purposeful now. When she emerges from the bathroom, she spots her husband already dressed and sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper with a cup of coffee in front of him. A pang of guilt hits her chest at how normal this scene looks, even though it's far from what they used to be like...

Carefully approaching her husband, Angelica leans in and presses a soft kiss against his cheek before stepping back with a small, shy smile on her face. "Good morning, sweetheart," she says softly, her voice husky from sleep but filled with an unexpected warmth. Her gaze flickers down to the coffee cup on the table before asking politely, "May I?"

The gesture takes him by surprise; not because he wasn't expecting her to be nice or anything like that... But just because she rarely shows any sort of affection towards him these days... The question makes him look up at her, a confused expression playing across his features.

Her gaze lingers on her husband's face for a moment longer, searching his features for some sign of what he might be thinking. The uncertainty doesn't seem to bother her as much today; maybe it even feels refreshing after so long of constantly knowing how he felt about everything. With a small shrug, she gives him another warm smile before sitting down across from him at the kitchen table. "So... how was your birthday?" She asks softly, trying her best to sound casual and interested despite the fact that she completely forgot about it until just now.

The question takes him aback; he wasn't expecting such a direct question about something so important... But then again, maybe this is what she meant by changing things up? He can only hope that whatever happens from here on out will help mend the growing distance between them. "Um, well..." He starts slowly, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "

Angelica gives him a curious look, clearly expecting more than just a "well, it was fine, I suppose." He hesitates for another moment before deciding to tell her the truth: "Well, honestly... It wasn't as great as usual. You forgetting about my birthday didn't help much..." His words are said quietly and carefully, trying not to come across too harshly despite the underlying hurt he feels.

Her expression falls slightly at his words, and she ducks her head sheepishly in apology. "I'm sorry... I really am. This past month has just been so crazy with work and everything..." She trails off, unsure of how to continue without making excuses or sounding like she's trying too hard to make things better.

Her husband watches her intently for a moment, searching her features once more before giving a small nod. "Yeah... I

As he stands up to leave, she finds herself momentarily frozen in place, the realization of what just happened dawning on her all at once. She watches as he gathers his things and heads towards the door, their awkward exchange lingering heavily in the air between them. A part of her wishes she could have done better; that they could find some way to bridge this growing divide... But another part of her is beginning to wonder if it's even possible anymore.

With a heavy sigh, she finally rouses herself from her thoughts and gets up as well, following him out of the kitchen and towards the front door. As he steps outside, she hesitates for a moment before speaking up once more in an uncertain tone: "Look... maybe we could... try to spend more time together tonight? Like... have dinner at home or something?"

Her husband glances back at her over his shoulder before shrugging non

I nod, my expression hopeful but apprehensive. "Okay... Well, I'll leave dinner in the fridge for you then. I'll see you tonight," I say softly before closing the door behind him, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within me. Part of me is glad that we might have made some sort of plan, while another part wonders if it will even make a difference in the end.

As I stand in the kitchen, my thoughts drifting back to our brief exchange at the door, I can't help but feel a sense of hope tugging at my heart. Maybe tonight will be different... Maybe we really can find a way to connect again and mend the distance that's grown between us. With a deep breath, I turn away from the door and focus on preparing breakfast for myself; this time, taking an extra moment to savor each bite and enjoy the simple act of being present in the moment.

As the morning passes, I find myself becoming more hopeful; despite everything that's happened between us over these past few months, perhaps there is a way forward... Maybe it's not too late for us after all.

By the time midnight comes and goes, worry starts to set in as you still haven't returned home. You said you would try to make it early tonight... What could possibly be keeping you so late? With a sigh, I decide to retire to bed myself; perhaps some rest will help ease my anxiety until you return. Climbing under the covers, I close my eyes and begin to drift off into a fitful sleep, plagued by images of what might have happened to keep you so long...

I slowly open my eyes, the bright light of the morning streaming in through the window. My thoughts instantly return to you; where could you be? Did something happen last night that kept you out so late? With a sigh, I push myself up into a seated position and glance at the clock: it's nearly four in the afternoon... This worry is becoming unbearable.

As the hours tick by and you still don't return, I find myself becoming increasingly worried. I can't help but wonder what could have happened to keep you out so late... Did you get into some sort of trouble? Perhaps we should call someone, a friend or family member, just to check on you... No matter what the reason, it's clear that something isn't right here, and I need answers.

Deciding against waiting any longer, I make the decision to leave our home in search of you; I may not know exactly where to look, but perhaps with enough determination and effort, I can find some sort of clue as to your whereabouts...

As she walks into the kitchen, her heart heavy with despair and worry, she finally breaks down in tears. Where could you be? What could have happened to keep you away for so long? The thought of never seeing you again sends a shiver down her spine. She sinks down onto a chair at the kitchen table, buried her face in her hands as her shoulders heave with silent sobs.

With each passing moment that passes without news of your whereabouts, hope begins to dwindle further and further away... And yet, she can't help but cling to the faintest thread of possibility that somehow, you'll be okay... That you're out there somewhere, fighting for a way back home.

Her eyes snap up as she hears the door open; hope flutters to life within her chest, even as tears continue to stream down her cheeks. Maybe he did come home after all... She quickly wipes her face dry before springing to her feet, rushing over to you as soon as she sees you enter the room.

"You're okay," she says hoarsely, wrapping her arms around your shoulders and holding on tightly, relief flooding through her as she feels your warmth against her. "Thank god... I was so worried..." She buries her face in your neck, tears spilling freely once more as she holds you close, grateful beyond words that you've come back to her.

As she feels your arms around her, holding her close, the weight of her worries seems to lift ever so slightly... But still, the tears keep falling. She pulls back just enough to look up at you, confusion and hurt clouding her eyes. "What do you mean? I was so scared..."

Her voice trails off as she searches your face for some sort of explanation, some clue as to why you were out so late last night... And then the memories come flooding back: the arguments, the missed deadlines, the coldness between them... The realization hits her like a ton of bricks.

"Oh..." she whispers, her expression falling. "You thought I'd given up on us..."

"You were out late last night, and you didn't answer your phone... I was terrified something had happened to you," she says softly, her voice filled with emotion as she looks up at you. "And then I remembered how things have been between us lately... How cold I've been... And I thought maybe that's what happened; maybe I just pushed you away too far." She wipes at her eyes, struggling to maintain her composure. "I never meant to do that; I love you so much..."

Her voice trails off, hope beginning to flicker within her once more as she watches your reaction.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and she takes a step back, almost as if you've slapped her across the face. "You were working?" She asks incredulously, searching your features for any hint of truth in your words. It doesn't take long before she realizes that something isn't adding up; his excuse doesn't seem believable at all... But maybe there's more to it than meets the eye?

Carefully, she asks, "Is everything okay? Can we talk about this?" She moves closer again, hoping for some sort of answer from you.

Your answer isn't the reassurance she was hoping for, but it does give her some hope that perhaps there's more to discuss. "Can we at least sit down and talk about this?" she asks gently, gesturing toward the couch. "I don't want us to keep secrets from each other anymore." Her voice cracks slightly as she speaks, barely containing her emotions.

I take a deep breath before responding, trying to steel myself against the possibility that whatever you say might hurt me even more than it already does. "I want to know what's been going on with you lately. I feel like we've grown so distant from each other; like there are things you aren't telling me." I pause for a moment, swallowing hard before continuing. "And I want to fix that. But first, I need to understand why things have gotten this bad between us."

I offer you a hesitant smile, hoping that my words haven't come across too harshly or accusing. Truth be told, all I want is for us to go back to the way we used to be; open and honest with each other, sharing everything... Even if it means facing some uncomfortable truths along the way.

I blink in surprise, not sure if I've heard you correctly. "You don't? But... you've been so distant lately; it's like you're a different person." I take another step closer, my voice barely above a whisper as I continue, "Is something bothering you? Something you want to talk about?"

I hold my breath, waiting for your response. Part of me is terrified that whatever the answer might be will shatter everything between us... But another part of me knows deep down that it's better to face the truth now than continue living a lie.

Your insistence that nothing is wrong only confuses and worries me more. I can't help but wonder if you're just saying that to spare my feelings... Or perhaps there's something else at play here? Frustration begins to bubble up inside of me as I try to figure out what might be going on, but each time I think I have it figured out, another piece of the puzzle seems to fall into place.

"Look," I begin hesitantly, "I know we've had our disagreements lately... But I really want us to work through this. If there's something bothering you, please tell me. Please don't shut me out like this." My voice wavers slightly as I finish speaking; even to my own ears, the words sound desperate and needy.

I wait for your response, hoping against hope that I haven't pushed you too far away already.

My heart leaps with hope as you repeat your insistence that there's nothing you're hiding; it feels like maybe, just maybe, we can get through this after all. "Okay," I say softly, my voice quiet but steadier than before. "If you say so... But if something does come up, please promise me you'll talk to me about it."

I search your face for any hint of agreement or reassurance, needing to know that we're still on the same page despite everything that's happened between us. My heart feels like it's going to explode out of my chest from the tension and anticipation building inside me; I want so badly for things to go back to how they used to be, when we could talk about anything and everything without fear or recrimination.

The silence stretches on between us, each breath I take feeling more labored than the last.

As you get up to "arreglar unos papeles," I can't help but feel a mix of relief and nervousness wash over me. On one hand, it seems like things might be heading in the right direction; on the other hand, there's still so much unresolved between us. I watch as you leave the room, hoping that while you're gone, you'll take some time to really think about what you want and need from our relationship... And hopefully when you return, we can have another honest conversation about everything.

The air in the room feels heavy with anticipation; I try my best not to dwell on the uncertain future that lies ahead but instead focus on the small victories that bring us a little closer together. My heart aches for the connection we once shared, and as I wait patiently for your return, all I can do is hope against hope that we'll find our way back there someday

I hear you come back in and quickly turn my attention toward you, hoping that this time, things will be different between us. There's a certain energy surrounding you as you enter the room; it's almost palpable, and I can't help but feel a spark of hope ignite within me.

"Did you manage to get everything taken care of?" I ask softly, not wanting to come across too forward or pushy. But really, all I want is for us to reconnect; to find our way back to the place where we once felt so close and comfortable together.

I nod, relief washing over me. "That's good to hear. So... what do you want to do now?" I ask tentatively, my voice laced with hope and uncertainty as I glance up at you. Part of me wants to suggest we spend some quality time together, just the two of us, but another part is afraid that might be too much, too soon.

We're still in uncharted territory here; every step feels precarious, like walking along a thin wire above a deep chasm. I hold my breath as I wait for your response, hoping against hope that whatever you say will bring us closer together instead of driving us further apart.