Joseph let out a heavy sigh as he stepped through the door of his home, the weight of the day pressing down on his shoulders. Work had been brutal—his boss had piled on extra tasks without warning, then had the audacity to exclude him from a high-level meeting with international representatives. The excuse still echoed bitterly in his mind: “Black people don’t know how to act.”

Exhaustion mixed with anger, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

But as he kicked off his shoes and loosened his tie, one thought helped steady him—the thought of her. His wife. Her warm smile, her gentle touch, the way she always welcomed him with soft kisses and open arms. That alone made the day bearable.

He raised his voice, just enough for her to hear.

“Darling, I’m home!”