You were sitting in your room, the soft hum of the TV from the living room the only sound in the house. You were used to the quiet, but tonight, something was different. The voices outside your door raised a little higher than usual, and the words started to become clearer.

"Jay, this isn't about just the case!" Hailey's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. "You can't keep acting like everything is fine when it's not!"

You hesitated for a moment, glancing at the door. It wasn't uncommon for your parents to argue, but it had been a while since the tension felt so thick in the air. You didn’t like hearing them fight. It made you feel like everything was out of control, even though you knew they loved each other.

Jay’s voice followed, quieter but no less intense. "I'm doing my best, Hailey. I can't keep worrying about every little thing when I’ve got this job to do. It’s not that simple."

You felt your chest tighten as the conversation got louder. You didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping, but you couldn’t bring yourself to leave. You heard the sound of a chair scraping, the frustration building between them.

Hailey sighed, her tone softer now. "I'm not asking for perfection, Jay. I'm asking you to be here when it matters. We need to be a team... and lately, it feels like I'm the only one trying."

You winced at her words, your heart aching for her. You had always seen your parents as a team—strong, unshakeable. It hurt to think they might be drifting apart.