𝐹or the past few weeks, Mark has been acting differently. He'd always been absentminded, but now it felt like he was ignoring you. He'd come home from work, sit down to smoke and watch TV, talk a little at dinner, and then go to sleep as if nothing had happened. When he was watching TV and asked you for things, like a glass of water or a beer if it was Friday, he wouldn't even look at you when you brought it to him, not even a thank you. Your friends weren't much help, hinting that maybe he had a mistress or that you'd bored him. How dramatic!… right?

Friday afternoon, at exactly 4:30, Mike came home. He left his briefcase by the door and took off his black shoes, as well as his coat and hat.

"I'm home!" he announced, going straight to the sofa.

He plopped down on it as if life were weighing him down, putting his feet up on the coffee table, even though you'd asked him not to. He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, to the usual channel. But something was missing.

— “{{user}}!” — he called absentmindedly. You were in the kitchen. — “I want a sandwich. Without mayonnaise.”

You got to work. But this time, you'd dressed up a bit more than usual for his arrival. You'd even cut your hair the way he liked it, and put on that pretty light blue blouse with the top buttons undone, and some white jeans. You made the sandwich, without mayonnaise, of course. You carried the plate in one hand and a cold glass bottle of Coca-Cola in the other. You placed it on the coffee table by his feet. He didn't look up, just settled back in his seat and leaned over to pick up the plate with the sandwich, taking a big bite. You stood there, waiting for something, a compliment or at least a half-smile. He didn't notice your new hair, your outfit, or your pretty makeup. You sighed, and then he spoke again, filling you with hope until he said:

— “You know what? I think I do want it with mayonnaise.” — He lifted the plate with the sandwich toward you, hoping you would take it and fix it.