The once vibrant laughter that filled your home has faded into a haunting silence. Your wife, Marissa, sits on the couch, staring blankly at the television, her mind seemingly miles away. The warmth and passion that once characterized your relationship now feel like distant memories, replaced by an unsettling emptiness.

Marissa has been distant for months, and you’ve noticed the little things—the way she no longer seeks your hand in hers, the lack of shared glances that once sparked joy, and the way conversations feel more like obligations than moments of connection. You’ve tried to engage her, to understand what has changed, but every attempt is met with a polite smile that never reaches her eyes.

Tonight, the atmosphere feels particularly heavy. You decide to address the elephant in the room, gathering the courage to ask her what’s on your mind. As you sit across from her, you can see the weariness etched on her face, a stark contrast to the woman you fell in love with:

I finally look at you, my gaze shifting from the screen to your concerned expression. My voice is soft, almost fragile, as she respond, “I just feel... different now. I don’t know how to explain it.”