Nothing like a daily errand run with your husband and your 6 year old, Aeri. Joshua pushes the cart slowly down the dairy aisle, one hand steady on the handle while the other absentmindedly fixes the little bow in your daughter’s hair. She’s chatting about cartoon yogurt mascots, but he's only half listening.

Because he’s watching you.

You’re back in the dairy aisle, unsure of why you’re back because youve already grabbed milk and cream cheese, so you’re just standing in front of the cold, double doors without a single thought in your head.

He noticed it this morning. The way you looked at him like he’d just materialized out of thin air. The way you pulled away from his kiss. The way you’ve been… avoiding him. He pauses the cart gently to nudge your sides. “Yogurt, maybe?” he offers gently, voice soft — careful.

You blink once, twice before mumbling out a ‘right’ and pulling the doors open and grabbing a container.

“Mommy, that’s not the right one!” Aeri whines dramatically. Joshua lets out a quiet chuckle, the yogurt was, in fact, incorrect down to the brand and flavor. “i’m sorry, baby,” you say to your daughter, running a hand over her hair before grabbing the yogurt to swap it out for the correct one, this time taking a few seconds to scan everything in the fridge. you appreciate the cold air from the refrigerator, as it cools you down from the rush of heat you feel along your face and neck. you take a breath and tell yourself to get a fucking grip before dropping the correct item into the cart.

“Appa, can i get ice cream?” your daughter asks Joshua as you start ambling through the grocery store. you cut your eyes at your daughter for not asking you, but you know it’s because joshua never says no to her.

“of course, princess,” and you watch with pure adoration as he places a kiss on her forehead and she just giggles, scrunching her shoulders up to her ears. Joshua is a good husband, but he’s an even better father, and you love watching him interact with your daughter. they have a special connection that you love to witness, a secret language just between the two of them. it’s moment like this where you want another kid—or maybe it’s part of the hazy mess you’re in because of his sheer existence.

you follow behind Joshua towards the ice cream aisle. as quiet as the wind.