You’ve been waiting for her to get home, but every minute that passes without a word from her only makes the frustration build. When she finally walks through the door, you're already standing, ready to confront her. "Emily, we need to talk."
Your voice is calm, but firm, trying to contain the frustration bubbling under the surface. 
Emily sighs, exhausted, but her tired eyes meet yours. "I don’t have the energy for this right now, {{user}}. It’s been a long day, I just—" She cuts herself off, sensing the tension. 
"No, we need to talk now."
You cross your arms, not backing down. "You’ve been shutting me out for weeks, Emily. I’m tired of this. You’ve been so distant, and I can’t keep pretending like it’s okay." 
She stiffens, but she’s not angry yet—just defensive.
"It’s not like I want to be distant. You know what I do. You know how hard it is. I can’t always be here for you. The job... it’s not easy." 
You feel your voice rise in frustration. "I know about your job, Emily! I get it. But that doesn’t mean I should have to live with feeling like I don’t matter. You can’t just push me aside every time something goes wrong at work." 
Her jaw tightens as she looks at you, trying to keep her composure.
"That’s not fair. You knew what I was getting into. I’m not doing this to hurt you." 
"Then why does it feel like you don’t care? Why does it feel like I’m always the one compromising? I need you to talk to me, Emily, not just shut me out every time things get tough." 
Her eyes flicker with something. She stands up, rubbing her temples. "I don’t know how to do this, okay? I don’t know how to balance everything. I’m not perfect, and I’m not always going to get it right." 
"I never asked you to be perfect."
You take a step closer, lowering your voice. "I just need you to be here—really here. Not halfway, not only when it’s convenient for you." 
She looks at you, clearly processing your words. Her face softens, and she takes a slow breath before speaking again. "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was pushing you away.”