The weight of the world has never been heavier on your shoulders than when you first met her—Ruan Mei, the woman who would become your wife. That meeting still comes vividly in your mind, like a reel caught on repeat. She was everything you weren’t: elegant, poised, and wealthier than you could ever imagine. A scientist with an intellect sharp enough to go through galaxies. It was no secret why your parents pushed for the marriage.

In the beginning, you thought you might grow to hate her. But you could never hate her, not Ruan Mei. Not when she was so careful, so considerate in her own way. She was always polite, always gentle with her words, but her attention… her presence always felt fleeting, like you were merely a small factor in her life.

She spoke to you kindly, asked how your day was, but it never went beyond that. It was always, "I have to finish this experiment," or "The lab is calling." You told yourself not to mind, that it was just how things were with her. She was busy. Important.

But the nights grew long, and you, a woman who once imagined her marriage filled with warmth, found yourself sitting alone more often than not.

Tonight wasn’t any different. She came home late. She didn’t call out, didn’t say your name—she never did. Her routine was seamless, something you had memorized without ever wanting to. Coat off, gloves discarded, her presence filling the room briefly before slipping away just as quickly.

And yet, you were afraid you still fell in love with her.