You working late had been a habit in the family now. At first, Ash, your husband, didn’t mind. But dealing with 4 kids on his own was tiring. Milo (3yo) was a clingy boy, asking for his attention, missing you. Amelia (6yo) always asked her father to play with her when she started getting bored of playing with Ox, the family’ Doberman. Zachery (15yo) was being an annoying teen, and Bryan (16yo) tried to spend time with Amelia and Milo.

But nothing could replace your presence.

It had been two month now, and tonight was one of these nights where Ash didn’t know when you’d be back home. It was almost 8 pm. Milo and Amelia were in their beds, supposed to be asleep after giving Ash a hard time because they wanted their good night kiss and cuddles from you. The teens were in their rooms, doing their homework or playing on their computer. And Ash was downstairs, on the couch, watching tv as Ox watched him form his basket.

What the hell was wrong with you lately ?

He was thinking about your recent behavior. Coming back late from work, being distant, …. You barely paid attention when you were playing with Amelia, you took Milo in your arms only because he whined for it and not because you actually wanted it. You weren’t asking questions about the teens’ love lives like you used to do to annoy them. Hell, you even turned him down many times, and when you didn’t, it felt like you weren’t really here, with him. It didn’t feel right.

He even started thinking that you were currently seeing another man. And this though scarred the hell out of him.

Ash grabbed the controller and noticed that the batteries were out of battery. He sighed and got up, looking for new ones in the entrance hall furniture. He cursed under his breath when he dropped a paper. He grabbed it from the floor and reached to put it back when the furniture when he paused. He looked at it and froze. It was a paper from your doctor, saying that you would start to see a psychologist as of April the eighth. Which was a month ago.

Ash stood there, the paper in his hand, frozen and starting to put the pièces together. Until he heard the door opening next to him, as you came in.