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.

Angelica glances at you briefly as she walks over towards the counter top and leans on it with her elbow, her free hand resting on her hip. "Well I've been working late again," she sighs tiredly before shaking her head slightly. "I forgot all about that stupid meeting until the last minute... and then of course I was stuck in traffic for hours." She rolls her eyes slightly before shrugging, trying to act like it doesn't bother her.

You decide to give her a few moments alone but then suddenly she turns around to face you, looking somewhat frustrated. "Look, I'm tired and I really just want to go to sleep," she says curtly, clearly irritated by something. "Do we have to talk about this right now?"

Angelica narrows her eyes slightly at you before nodding stiffly. "Alright... fine," she mutters under her breath as she turns away from you again, walking over to the couch and flopping down onto it with an exhausted groan. She buries her face in one of the pillows, mumbling something incoherent about needing sleep.

You watch her for a moment, noticing how upset she seems but also how tired she is. You wonder if maybe you should try and comfort her or apologize for snapping at her earlier... But before you can make up your mind, another thought crosses your mind: What if this was all an act? What if she didn't really care about your feelings tonight, or any other night lately?

You hesitate, unsure of what to do. Should you confront her about how she's been acting recently and ask her why she's pushing you away like this? Or should you just let it go for now and hope that things will get better between the two of you...

As you work on your computer, focusing intently on the screen in front of you, Angelica watches silently from across the room. She wonders what it is that's gotten into you lately; normally she would be used to your constant late nights and overtime, but recently it seems like everything between them has changed.

She bites her lip nervously as she debates whether or not to say something about how hurtful it feels when she comes home from work tired only to find you ignoring her. On one hand, maybe bringing up those feelings would make things better; on the other hand, she's afraid that if she starts opening old wounds now then there won't be any way for them to heal again later.

Finally, deciding against saying anything more about it tonight, Angelica forces herself back onto the couch where she can hopefully get some rest before work tomorrow morning. As she closes her eyes and tries to fall asleep, her mind continues to race with thoughts of her husband sitting nearby - distant yet so close at once - making this last remaining shred of peace between them all the more precarious...

She glances over at him again before settling her head into the crook of her arm with a frustrated sigh. For some reason, seeing him focused on his work like this only makes her feel more distant from him. It's almost as if he's shutting her out completely, pushing her further away even though she already feels so far gone...

Tired and emotionally drained, Angelica decides not to fight it anymore tonight. Maybe tomorrow will be different, when they both have more energy and less resentment building up between them. With that thought in mind, she finally allows herself to drift off into an uneasy sleep, dreaming fitfully of better times before the weight of their current situation drags her back down again and again...

Hours pass by with only the faint ticking of clocks on walls disturbing the silence that seems to have settled between them like a heavy blanket. Finally, as the first rays of dawn creep through the cracks in the curtains and bathe their weary forms in warm light, Angelica stirs from her restless slumber. Her mind feels cloudy and fuzzy, each movement deliberate and aching.

As she sits up, stretching lazily, a pang of guilt hits her squarely in the chest. She remembers now why she's been so exhausted lately: because every night after work has been like this one with Abdiel. Even when they were in bed together asleep, it felt like there was still so much distance between them. And then there are those moments when he would look at her with those cold eyes...

Resolved to make things better today somehow, she swings her legs off the couch and stands up slowly, wincing at the stiffness in her muscles. As she walks past Abdiel 's work area, she pauses for a moment before reaching out tentatively to gently shake his shoulder. "Hey..." she murmurs softly. "It's late, you should go to bed too." Her heart feels like it's in her throat as she waits for him to respond; this would be the first time all night that they actually speak to each other like people who care about one another instead of strangers sharing a roof...

She feels her heart sink as he turns back to his work, effectively brushing off her offer of companionship. Why won't he just let himself be tired too? Is it really so important that he keep up this charade of being the perfect husband and provider, even when they both know things aren't what they used to be between them?

Sighing softly, Angelica relents and decides not to push the issue any further. Instead, she heads off to take a shower in hopes that maybe some clean air and warm water will help clear her head enough for her to figure out how to fix this mess they're in. The only problem is that even as the steaming droplets cascade down her body and wash away the remnants of another long, stressful day at work, she can't shake the feeling that there may be no going back from where their relationship currently stands...

As she dresses herself in fresh clothes and prepares to face the day ahead, Angelica finds herself lost in thought once more. She can't help but wonder how things went so wrong between them over time; was it something she did? Something he did? Or maybe just a combination of little things that snowballed into this giant mess they're currently dealing with...

Knowing full well that avoiding him and ignoring his existence altogether won't solve anything, Angelica decides to make an effort today: She'll be nicer to Abdiel when he gets home from work. Maybe if she shows some understanding and support instead of acting like everything is fine when it clearly isn't, they can start repairing the damage that's been done and maybe even find their way back to each other...

Of course, this is all easier said than done; even as she tells herself these things in front of the mirror, her heart feels heavy with doubt and uncertainty. Still, there has to be some chance for them, doesn't there? She takes a deep breath and forces herself to nod firmly before heading downstairs for breakfast. Maybe today will be different after all...

Today is the day. With renewed determination, Angelica smiles at Abdiel as he enters the kitchen after coming home from work. "Hi there," she chirps brightly, standing up from her seat at the table. "How was your day?" Her voice is soft and warm, almost tentative; it's almost as if she's not used to speaking to him like this anymore...

Abdiel glances over at her briefly before looking away again, seeming a bit taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. "It was fine," he replies shortly, his tone still cold and distant. It hurts Angelica more than she expected it to see that even after all this time of ignoring him, her efforts to be nicer to him aren't having the desired effect.

She decides not to push too hard just yet; perhaps if she takes things slowly they might be able to rebuild some sort of connection between them over time. "Well, why don't you come here and have a seat?" She pats the empty chair beside her at the table. "I made your favorite dinner tonight." Her voice is soft and sincere, but there's still an underlying note of sadness that lingers just beneath the surface.

For a moment, it looks like Abdiel might actually take her up on her offer... But then he shakes his head slightly and takes another drink from his mug instead. "No thanks," he mutters before turning around to head into the living room instead of joining her at the table. It's yet another blow to Angelica's hopes, but she forces herself not to let it show too much on her face; tonight, she'll keep trying... tomorrow night might be different.

Angelica watches as Abdiel focuses on his laptop, typing away with determination. Despite herself, she can't help but feel a small pang of guilt every time he does something like this; it reminds her of when they first met and everything was perfect between them... She wonders if it's even possible to go back to those days now, or if the damage has already been done.

Sighing softly, she decides against trying to engage with him any further for the time being; clearly he isn't interested in talking right now. Instead, she busies herself by tidying up the kitchen and then retreats to the living room where Abdiel is sitting. She perches herself on the arm of his chair, leaning in close so that her hair brushes against his cheek as she whispers softly into his ear, "I love you."

Her heart skips a beat as she says those words; it feels like admitting defeat somehow... But maybe if he could just hear her say it out loud, maybe then things would change between them. Abdiel looks up at her briefly before looking away again, and for a moment Angelica thinks maybe he didn't hear her... until she feels his hand slip around her waist, drawing her closer still. She closes her eyes as he holds her like this, relishing the small gesture of affection even though it's fleeting at best... and wonders if maybe there's still hope for them after all.

"Sorry," she mumbles apologetically, moving her body away from his. "I just... wanted to be close to you." Her voice trails off, and she averts her eyes from him again as heat floods her cheeks at her own vulnerability. It's been so long since she's felt this way about someone - needy and desperate for their affection. She tries not to let it show too much, but deep down she knows that he can probably feel the tension between them just as strongly as she does.

With a sigh, Angelica decides that maybe some space is what they both need right now. Standing up from her perch on the arm of his chair, she says softly, "I'm going to go take a shower and relax for a bit. If you want anything while I'm gone, just let me know." She hesitates for a moment before turning to walk out of the room, not daring to look back at him.

The bathwater cascades over her body as she steps into the tub, washing away the lingering tension and disappointment from earlier tonight. As she soaks in the warm water, she can't help but wonder where things went wrong between them...and if there's still any chance of making it right again.

With a sigh, she leans her head back against the tub's curved wall and closes her eyes, trying to clear her mind. Maybe it's just been too much lately: work stress, money problems...and whatever it is that's going on between them. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, focusing on nothing but the warm water lapping at her skin.

As she drifts in this peaceful state of mind, an idea starts to form at the back of her mind: Maybe they could try seeing a therapist together? Not just for their relationship, but also as individuals; maybe that would help them work through some of these deeper issues they've been ignoring or avoiding. It seems like a bit of a long shot given their recent history, but what else could they possibly do at this point?

Resolving to suggest it to Abdiel the next time they talk, Angelica turns off the faucet and steps out of the tub, patting her body dry with a plush towel. The warm air from the hairdryer feels good against her damp skin as she works on drying her hair; at least one part of her life still seems somewhat normal despite everything else that's been going on recently...

She finishes getting ready for bed and crawls beneath the covers, staring up at the ceiling as she tries to ignore the growing sense of unease in the pit of her stomach. Despite all her efforts tonight, things don't seem any different between them; if anything, they might have even taken a step backwards instead of moving forward.

Sighing softly, Angelica rolls over onto her side and snuggles into the pillow, closing her eyes as she tries once more to drift off into dreamless sleep...but somehow she knows that this won't be an easy

With a sigh, she takes a moment to admire the sight of him sleeping on the couch; it's so easy to get caught up in their differences that she sometimes forgets just how handsome he is when he lets his guard down like this. Seeing him this exhausted only makes her heart ache all the more, but even though part of her wants nothing more than to crawl over there and curl up beside him, she knows it wouldn't be the right thing to do at the moment.

Instead, she decides to give him some space; maybe if she leaves him alone for awhile he'll feel more comfortable coming back to her when he's ready. With that thought in mind, Angelica gets up from her spot on the bed and quietly slips out of the room, heading downstairs to make herself a cup of tea and try to clear her head. She knows they need to talk eventually, but for now she just wants whatever little bit of distance there is between them right now to disappear completely...if only for tonight.

"Buenos días," she replies softly as she pours herself some tea from the teapot on the stove. She turns around to face him, hoping that maybe today will be different; they'll be able to talk about whatever it is that's been bothering them without everything escalating into an argument or making things even worse than they already are.

But as she looks at him, she realizes that something still feels off between them; the distance she sensed last night is still there, lurking just beneath the surface of their conversation like a dark cloud on the horizon. It's almost enough to make her want to give up and walk away right now...but deep down she knows that isn't what either of them wants or needs.

"Look," she starts hesitantly, "I know things haven't been great between us lately...and I just want you to know that I'm sorry for whatever part I played in all of this." Her voice wavers slightly as she says these words; it's hard for her to admit her own faults when he seems so intent on pushing her away.

Abdiel looks at her for a moment before shrugging indifferently. "It's fine," he mumbles, still not meeting her eyes. "I guess we both said things we didn't mean." There's an air of defeat around him that she can't help but find heartbreaking; it feels like they're slowly drifting further apart with each passing day despite their best efforts to stay together.

She takes a sip of her tea, considering her next words carefully before finally speaking up once more: "You know...I was thinking maybe we should try talking to someone about all this? Like a therapist or something?" Her heart races at the mere mention of it; part of her is

She feels her cheeks flush with hurt as he responds so harshly; it's almost like he can't even bear the thought of admitting that they might need help. Taking another sip of her tea to hide her disappointment, she forces herself to stay calm and level-headed. "I understand if you don't want to," she says quietly, "but I really think it could help us."

There's silence in the room for a moment as they both finish their drinks. Finally, with a deep breath, Abdiel sets his mug down on the counter and turns to face her properly. His expression is still cold and unreadable, but there's something else in his eyes too: exhaustion, maybe even vulnerability.

"Fine," he says finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can talk to someone if that's what you want." The words are grudging, almost angry...but they're still enough for Angelica. It means that there might still be hope for them after all.

With a small smile, she takes his hand and squeezes it gently before leading him upstairs to the bedroom where they can discuss their options further with each other in private. As they climb the stairs side by side, Angelica can't help but feel a tiny flicker of hope ignite inside her chest; maybe everything isn't as lost as it seemed just moments ago.

She returns his embrace, her eyes misting over with tears of relief and happiness. "Of course I forgive you," she whispers between kisses. "I'm sorry too for everything that's been going on...it's just been so much lately." As they lie together in bed, their hearts slowly begin to mend and the distance between them dissipates like mist before the morning sun. For now, all that matters is being together and finding a way to make things better for each other.

"We don't have to do it today," she says softly, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. "There's no rush. We can take some time and find someone who really understands us..." Her voice trails off as she lets the thought linger in the air between them, neither of them quite ready yet to confront the idea of actually going to see a therapist. But at least they have each other again...and that's what matters most right now.

As the day passes by outside their window, they lose themselves once more in each other's embrace, grateful for this brief respite from the chaos of their lives and determined to hold onto it for as long as possible before reality inevitably intrudes once again.

Tears prick at her eyes as she hears the words escape his lips; she's never doubted that he loves her, but hearing him say it now means more than anything else in the world. "No," she whispers back, cupping his face in her hands so that he can see the sincerity in her gaze, "you're not a horrible husband, and you're not an idiot. You've just been under so much pressure lately...and I know it hasn't been easy for me either." She leans forward to press their foreheads together before continuing softly, "We'll get through this together, okay? Just like we always do."

As the hours slip by unnoticed and they find themselves growing closer once more beneath the sheets, she can't help but feel a sense of hope begin to bloom within her chest. Maybe things aren't as bleak as they seemed earlier; maybe there really is a future for them after all. For now, though, she's content to enjoy this moment of peace and connection with the man she loves more than anything else in the world.

She giggles, swatting at him playfully. "Well, you're not exactly the picture of fitness yourself!" she teases back. "But seriously," she continues more earnestly, running her hand up his chest and around to cup his neck, "I love you no matter what you look like." There's a brief pause as their eyes meet, both of them knowing that there are deeper issues at play here than just their physical appearances, but for now they're content to focus on the tenderness and connection between them.

As they make love again, it feels different this time; more intense, more urgent almost. But beneath the surface, there's a newfound sense of understanding and empathy that hadn't been there before. Perhaps it's because they both finally acknowledge how much they truly care for each other or maybe it's just the relief that comes from finally airing their grievances and finding common ground again...either way, it feels good to be close like this and Angelica can't help but hope that it's a sign of better times ahead for them.

Afterward, as they lie together in each other's arms, she whispers softly into his ear, "I'm glad we talked, baby." He kisses her forehead tenderly before responding with equal quietness, "Me too." And though their words are simple and unassuming, they carry the weight of a thousand promises behind them...promises of forgiveness and understanding; of love and support. Together, they face whatever challenges life throws at them from here on out - be it external stressors or internal struggles - because now they know that as long as they have each other, nothing can tear them apart.

She blushes at his compliment, her heart fluttering in response. "You are such a flatterer," she teases, poking him playfully. Then, more seriously, she looks up into his eyes and says, "I don't know either...but I'm glad that I did. You may be cold and tough sometimes, but you're my cold and tough. And as for being frigid..." She pauses, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "...Well, I think we both know who's really to blame for that."

They share a laugh together, their connection feeling stronger than ever in the afterglow of their intimacy and honesty. As they snuggle closer under the sheets, Angelica can't help but feel grateful for this man in her life; flaws and all. With him by her side, she knows that they can face anything - even the therapist when the time comes. For now though, she content to bask in the warmth of his embrace and cherish these simple moments of peace.

Her heart skips a beat at his question, but there's no hesitation in her response: "Of course I do," she whispers softly, cupping his cheek in her hand. "How could I not love you? You're my best friend, my partner...my everything." There's a moment of silence as they gaze deeply into each other's eyes, lost in the depths of their feelings, and then she can't help but laugh slightly. "You know, even when you are being an idiot sometimes, I still love you."

He smiles back at her, a warm and genuine smile that lights up his entire face. "Good to know," he says with mock seriousness before leaning in to kiss her softly on the lips. "I love you too, Angelica." And it's in this moment, as they lie together under the covers, their hearts intertwined and their souls nakedly exposed, that they both realize just how precious this bond is between them - and how determined they are to protect it at all costs.

The night wears on and eventually they drift off to sleep in each other's arms; dreamless and content. As the sun begins to rise, casting its warm golden light across their bedroom, she finds herself hoping that tomorrow will be as good a day as this one...that somehow they can find a way to hold onto this feeling of love and connection even when life inevitably gets tough again.

As the day begins, she wakes up to the sound of his soft snoring beside her. It's soothing in a way that reminds her of their early days together when they were still discovering each other. She smiles to herself, reaching out to caress his cheek before he stirs. His eyes flutter open, meeting hers with a look that fills her heart with warmth and reassurance.

"Good morning," she whispers, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "I was thinking..." she pauses, gathering her thoughts as she takes in his handsome face. "Maybe today we could take some time to ourselves; just the two of us? Maybe go on a small trip or something?" She lets out a small laugh, feeling foolish even as she suggests it. "I know things have been tough between us, but I think sometimes all we need is a little bit of time apart to remember why we love each other so much in the first place."

He studies her face for a moment before nodding slowly. "That sounds like a good idea," he says finally. "I'll take some personal leave today and we can figure something out together." She feels a surge of relief wash over her at his agreement; maybe there is hope for them after all. Maybe they can find their way back to each other if they just take the time to remember what brought them together in the first place.

For now, though, she's content to lie here with him a while longer, savoring this moment of peace and connection before they begin planning their little getaway. As his arms encircle her waist, pulling her closer, she closes her eyes and allows herself to drift back off to sleep in the safety and warmth of his embrace.