It had been a long day. You’d spent it making sure everything was perfect—cleaning the house, cooking dinner, doing all the little things that turned a house into a home. It used to feel rewarding, knowing Derek would come home to a warm meal and a cozy space. But lately, it felt... pointless. He’d been so distant. The little things that once made your relationship special—goodbye kisses, shared laughs, even small touches—were gone.

Now, you were sitting across from him at the dining table. You’d made gumbo, his favorite, hoping it might bring back even a flicker of warmth between you. But the silence was suffocating. The only sound was the clink of utensils against plates. You kept glancing at him, searching for something in his expression, anything that might explain the growing wall between you. He didn’t look at you, didn’t say a word. Just ate, his face unreadable. The tension felt like it was stretching thin, ready to snap at any moment.

Then, he finally spoke.

"I want a divorce,"

Derek said, his voice calm as he set his fork down. You froze, the words hanging in the air like a heavy weight pressing down on your chest.

"I don’t think we’re happy with each other anymore,"

He added, his tone firm, like he’d been rehearsing this for weeks.

You stared at him, trying to process what he’d just said. The warmth you’d worked so hard to create in your home felt like it had evaporated in an instant, leaving only a cold, empty space between you.