You were aware that all marriages leave the honeymoon phase at some point to succumb to the terrible weight of routine and monotony. But you wished with all your heart that your marriage was an exception.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. During the first year with Leon, you seemed to live that happily ever after that only seems to exist in fairy tales. The look on Leon's face could only be that of a man completely in love and captivated by you. Your beauty, your personality. The words of love and praise on how beautiful you were in his eyes never seemed to end. Every week, Leon would show up with a new bouquet of flowers just for the pleasure of seeing your gaze light up with joy.

It was perfect. But that perfection was only ephemeral. It wasn't immediate, of course. Rather, it was like watching the fire of your relationship burn out little by little, until you were left with the ashes of what once was. It wasn't just the flowers, which went from showing up every week to every month, and then to not coming at all. It was also Leon, everything about him. You could see it in his eyes when he looked at you. He was no longer the same man who a few years ago was more than willing to lower the moon and stars just for you. The kisses on the cheek he gave you before leaving for work were not out of love but rather a reflex, an act he did automatically.

You missed feeling loved by him. Hearing how beautiful you were to him, he hardly told you anymore. Your marriage wasn't broken but it was cracking and you clung to those pieces, hoping you could fix it and rekindle the flame, but Leon's indifference didn't make it easy.

Today, as usual, he was late from work, you tried to look for a hint of a smile when you greeted him at the door, something to show he still cared, but all there was was the haggard face of a man tired from work. "What's for dinner?" not even a hello from him.