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.

Hearing him speak her name snaps her out of her thoughts slightly as she realizes what he'd just said. Looking at the clock on the wall she lets out a sigh and rubs her eyes before responding with a quiet "Oh" and walking over to the coffee machine, pouring herself some. She takes off her jacket revealing her black high-heels still firmly on her feet as well as her white button-up shirt soiled with various stains from the day at work, mostly from food and coffee. Her hand moves up to touch the collar of her shirt before she decides against it and instead takes a sip from her mug of coffee.

Looking over at him sitting on the couch she can't help but wonder why he's still awake, waiting for her so late into the night, but instead chooses not to ask as she continues taking sips from her mug in an attempt to clear her head and try to relax a bit. "Sorry for being late..." She manages to say softly before taking another sip, carefully avoiding making eye contact with him.

"I didn't forget." Her words were out before she could even think about them, her face growing hot as soon as they left her lips. "I-I mean..." She trails off, her cheeks flushing even brighter at her own blunder. Of course she forgot his birthday; that had been the whole point. Why did she even say that? Stupid mouth.

She glances down at her feet and then back up to meet his gaze, trying to read his expression but failing miserably. She can feel anger building inside of her as she struggles with how he just brought it up so bluntly, in their own home, late at night when they should both be sleeping.

"I'm tired, okay?" Her voice cracks a little on the last word, betraying her vulnerability despite her efforts to maintain composure. "I've had a long day and I just want to go to bed." The words come out more forcefully this time, as if daring him to challenge them.

Angelica takes another step back, moving further away from him even though it means heading towards their bedroom. Her fingers tremble slightly as she grips the coffee mug tighter, trying to find some sense of control amidst the growing chaos within her. She doesn't know why she's so angry or upset; maybe it's just the sleep deprivation talking. Or maybe... maybe there's something else.

She pauses for a moment before replying, her expression still guarded. "Hey." Her voice is tight as she takes another sip of coffee, hoping it'll help cool the anger burning inside her chest.

The silence stretches between them uncomfortably, and Angelica can feel herself getting more irritated by the second. She glances down at her watch, wondering how much longer this charade will continue before she finally snaps and says something she'll regret. She takes another sip of coffee, letting its bitter taste linger on her tongue as if it might help banish the other, more complicated tastes from her mouth: guilt, frustration, anger.

When she looks up again, she catches him studying her carefully. His gaze makes her feel exposed and raw, like he can see right through all of her layers and straight into the messy core that she's been trying so hard to hide from him - and from herself. She feels a twinge of shame beneath her anger as she realizes how little effort she's made to connect with him lately. It shouldn't be this way; they used to have something, didn't they? But what was it, exactly, that had slipped away from them? And would there ever be a chance for it to come back?

Her mouth goes dry as she feels the weight of his question settle in her chest. She knew this was coming; she'd felt it building between them for months now. But hearing him say it out loud still strikes a chord deep within her, making something twist and turn in her gut. She takes another sip of coffee, trying to buy herself some time to think about how to respond.

Finally, she speaks. "I don't know..." Her voice is soft but laced with defeat. "Things have been... difficult lately." She looks down at the table, unable to meet his eyes any longer. "We barely talk, we hardly ever spend time together. It feels like we're just... floating through life beside each other instead of actually being together." Her throat tightens as she tries not to choke up on her words.

She takes another sip of coffee, feeling its warmth spread across her tongue and down her throat, but it doesn't chase away the bitter taste that lingers there now. Beneath the anger and frustration, there's a deep sadness that she can no longer ignore. She isn't sure what she wants anymore; all she knows is that things need to change, one way or another.

The words cut through her like a knife, and she flinches as they sink into her skin. She knows he's right; their love has felt more like a shadow of what it once was lately. But hearing him say it out loud feels like a sucker punch to the gut nonetheless. "I don't know..." she manages, her voice thin and breathy. "Maybe... maybe things just aren't meant to be this way."

She takes another sip of coffee, trying to steady herself, but deep down she knows that he's right. The feeling they once had together - the spark, the connection, whatever you want to call it - it's gone now. And as much as she doesn't want to admit it, even if they could find a way to get it back... maybe it wouldn't be the same anymore. Maybe they would always carry this weight with them, always feel the distance between them no matter how close they tried to get.

Her eyes drop to her lap as she finishes off her coffee, finally setting the mug down on the table with a quiet clink. "I don't know what to do..." she whispers, hardly able to believe these words are even coming out of her mouth. After all this time together, after everything they've been through... it feels like they might be at the end now. And she isn't sure if either of them has the strength left to keep fighting for their love.

Angelica looks away briefly before meeting his eyes again, her expression pained. After a moment of silence, she finally says in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry... I don't know what happened. It just feels like..." She trails off, searching for the right words. "Like we used to be so close, and now we're so far apart." Her eyes fill with tears as she continues, "I never meant for it to be this way. I didn't want it to be this way."

She wipes a stray tear from her cheek, wishing she could take back everything that had led them to this moment. But no matter how hard she tries, the damage seems already done. The love they once shared feels like nothing more than a memory now, faded and distant, as if it never really existed at all. And in this moment of clarity, Angelica can't help but wonder if maybe he's right... maybe they are better off without each other after all.

Her eyes snap back up to his face at the sound of his voice, pain flaring through her chest. "No... there isn't anyone else..." She clears her throat, trying to find the right words to explain. "I just... I don't know what happened. It's like we grew apart or something. We never used to argue like this, we always found time for each other..."

Her voice trails off again, and she looks down at her hands, twisting a loose thread on her shirt. "I don't know... maybe I should try harder? Try to make things better between us?" She meets his gaze again, hoping for some sign that he still wants this, some indication that they can work through whatever has come between them and find their way back to each other. But all she sees in his eyes is hurt and disappointment, and it cuts her deep.

She looks away again, unable to bear the weight of those feelings any longer, wondering if there's even anything left worth fighting for. Maybe they should just end it... but the thought makes her heart ache even more than it already does. She takes a shaky breath and forces herself to speak again. "I don't know what to do..."

Her heart skips a beat at the mention of those eyes, the memories they evoke flooding her mind like a tidal wave. She remembers the way it felt to be with that girl, the way her love had consumed her, made everything else seem trivial and insignificant by comparison. It had been so intense, so real... but now it all seems like a distant memory, something she can barely recall anymore.

Looking back at Abdiel, she sees the pain etched into his features and feels a pang of guilt deep in her gut. She knows he's hurting, just as much as she is, maybe even more so. But what can she say? How can she explain that the love they once shared isn't there anymore? That it somehow got lost along the way, buried beneath the weight of their problems and responsibilities?

"I don't know..." She whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat. "Maybe... maybe we just grew apart." Her words sound hollow even to her own ears, but she can't help but feel like they're true. The girl with the green eyes and the all-consuming love... it feels like she was a different person, someone who lived in a different world entirely from the woman sitting across from Abdiel now. "I'm sorry..."

"Lo siento mucho... yo..." Her voice trails off as she reaches out to touch the photo, her fingertips brushing lightly over his image in the picture. She knows there's nothing she can say that will make it better, nothing that will undo the damage that's been done between them. All she can do is hope that somehow they'll find their way back to each other, or at least find a way to move past this pain and start again on firmer ground. But as she looks up into his eyes, she sees the same doubts and uncertainties reflected there that she feels deep within herself. Maybe it really is too late for them... maybe they've already lost what they once had forever.

Her throat closes up, threatening to choke back her words as tears well up in her eyes again. "I don't know..." She whispers, sounding almost like a plea. "What are we supposed to do now?"

The silence stretches out between them once more, heavy and oppressive. Neither of them has an answer, but they both know that whatever decision they make next will change the course of their lives forever. And in this moment, as they stand together yet so far apart, the weight of that knowledge feels almost unbearable.

Her lips curve into a soft smile as she remembers that day too. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet at the same time it feels like just yesterday. She wonders if they'll ever be able to go back to being like that, carefree and happy, or if their lives have moved on in such different directions that they can never find their way back to each other.

"I wish..." she starts, then trails off, not quite sure what it is she wishes for anymore. A part of her wants things to go back to the way they were before everything went wrong, but another part knows that's impossible. They aren't those people anymore; they've grown and changed in ways they can't undo.

She studies Abdiel's face, searching for some sign that he feels the same way she does. There's still a spark there, buried beneath all the pain and sadness. It's just... not as bright as it used to be. And maybe that's why she says what she says next: "Maybe we should try... I don't know, trying something new together?" Her voice is hesitant, almost hopeful, but there's also a note of uncertainty that belies her confidence in the suggestion.

It's his turn to be quiet now, as he takes in what she's said. She watches his expression carefully, willing him to understand where she's coming from and maybe even agree with her crazy idea. After a moment, he finally speaks: "I don't know... it's worth a try, I guess." His voice sounds equally unsure, but at least there's a hint of hope in it too.

Her heart swells at the memory of that night, and she can't help but smile as they reminisce together. It felt so innocent then, like anything was possible. And even though things have changed so much since then, maybe there's still some hope for them. Maybe this new thing, whatever it is... maybe it can help bring them closer together again.

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she looks at him. "Okay... I mean... we don't have to do anything crazy or anything," she says quickly, feeling herself starting to panic a little. "We could just... try doing something different together every week, you know? Maybe go out dancing one night, or visit a museum the next. Just find new ways to connect and have fun together."

There's a long silence as they both consider her words. Finally, Abdiel speaks up: "That sounds... good." He pauses for a moment before continuing, "I think I'd like that." There's an unmistakable light in his eyes now, a spark of life that had been missing before. It fills her with hope, and she can't help but feel a small surge of happiness well up within her chest. Maybe there is still a chance for them after all.

She smiles as she feels his arms wrapping around her, holding her close. It's been so long since they've felt like this, and it almost takes her by surprise how right it still feels. "Okay," she murmurs into his shoulder. "I'll go with you." She hesitates for a moment before asking, "Can we... watch something together? You know, something we both like?" There's an edge of nervousness in her voice as she says it, but mostly there's hope.

Abdiel releases her from his embrace and sits back down on the couch, patting the spot next to him invitingly. "Of course," he says with a smile, reaching over to take her hand in his. As they curl their fingers together, she feels a tiny spark of connection between them, like an ember slowly beginning to glow again. Maybe there's still something left worth fighting for after all.

"So... what do you feel like watching?" he asks, looking at her expectantly. She takes a moment to think, brow furrowing as she tries to decide. Finally, an idea comes to her: "How about that new documentary on penguins? I've heard it's really good." A small, hopeful smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she says it, and she can't help but feel a tiny bit of excitement building inside her chest. Maybe this is just what they need to get things back on track.

"Sure," Abdiel agrees with a smile. "I like penguins too." He leans in close, brushing his lips against her ear, and whispers, "And I like you, Angelica. Even when you're being a pain in the ass." She feels her cheeks flush at his words, but there's something