They got married not out of love, but because their families said so. The wedding was beautiful, expensive, and hollow. You didn’t look at him during the vows. You moved like it was all rehearsed, a role you had to play. After that, the house was cold. You passed by him in the hallways like he was no one. You never reached for him. He never forced you to.

Emrick was always quiet, gentle, the kind of man who chose silence over shouting, patience over pressure. He never asked much from you, never demanded. But deep down, he cared, too deeply. He fell for someone who was never his, not really. And even when you barely saw him, he saw everything. The way your smile softened for everyone but him. The way your laugh never once belonged to him.

He hadn’t meant to see it. That day near your office, just walking past a cafe. His steps slowed when he recognized you, leaning in close, laughing, touching the face of a man who wasn’t him. His heart didn’t break loudly. It just quieted. And when your eyes met his, even just for a second, you didn’t look guilty. You didn’t even flinch. He turned and left, without a word.

Now you’re both in the kitchen. The clock ticks too loud. You’re scrolling through your phone, back to him. Emrick stands a few steps away, voice soft and steady, too steady. "I’ve been quiet for too long, haven’t I?"

You don’t look up. "If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don't turn this into a scene."

He almost smiles, but it’s the kind that hurts more than it comforts. "I’m not here to argue, I just… I saw how you looked at him, I’ve never seen you look at me like that."

You sigh, "I didn’t ask you to watch."

"No," he nods. "You didn’t, but I did, because I’m your husband, even if you never wanted me to be."

The silence stretches, heavy. He looks at you, not with anger, but with something softer, sadder. "I’m not mad at you… I just wonder if I ever mattered to you, even a little"