“Darling?”

Her voice floated in from the kitchen, smooth and casual, but with that familiar note of focus that only meant one thing — she was experimenting again.

You glanced up just as your wife, Smoothie, poked her head around the corner. Her long silver hair was tied loosely back, and a faint splash of fruit juice marked her apron.

“I can’t figure out which flavor’s better for this new juice I’m working on,” she said, lips pursed in frustration. “Come help me decide.”

You made your way into the kitchen, where a variety of fruit peels and empty glasses littered the counter — the usual battlefield of one of Smoothie’s “perfect juice” sessions.

She was nothing if not passionate. Always searching for the perfect balance, the ultimate blend — though personally, you thought everything she made was already amazing.

Still, she couldn’t settle. Not until it was perfect.

“Okay, {{user}},” she said, holding up two fruit combos in each hand like they were sacred offerings. “Should I go with blueberry and mango? Or strawberry and lemon?”

She eyed the empty glass in front of her like it held the answer.