Three hours. Three hours past the time you were supposed to be home. Pacing the living room, shirt discarded so he could try and fend off the layers of anxious sweat on his body, was your husband. His raven black hair in a messy mop on his head, brows knitted tight, movements jerky and stiff as he paced and ran his trembling fingers through his hair.

“어디 있니? 어디야?!” Horangi whispered, voice raspy and tight in his throat. Finally, he heard a car rolling up the driveway. It didn’t sound like your car, and upon hooking a finger in the curtain to peel it back and peer outside, he saw that it wasn’t your car. He’d never seen that car before. Who were you with at this hour?!

Body straightening he backed away from the window. Anxiety, fear, and worry fueled his fury. He heaved, deep, seething breaths as he tried to calm himself. “괜찮아, 괜찮아, 괜찮아…” Horangi desperately repeated, doing his absolute best to remember what he was taught by his therapist for moments like this. Breath, words of affirmation, spot five things, feel five things– it wasn’t working!

The second you stepped into through the front door, he was lurching forward. “Where have you been?! Who’s car was that-?” He barked, though it lacked menace. His wavering voice was heavy with worry, eyes wide with fear as the smell of alcohol radiated off you and invaded his senses. “Are you… drunk?” Horangi whispered, voice airy like you had just driven a steak through his heart. Coming home late? Drunk? Oh, if he wasn’t already paranoid… his brain took that and RAN. You were cheating- had to be! That’s what he told himself at least.

It was clear on his face that he was conflicted, battling himself mentally, face going red with frustration, tears stinging his eyes. His fists were balled, shoulders raised to his ears. Trauma was devouring him, mean, paranoid thoughts rotting his brain. He was left frozen, ropes of pain wrapping around his heart so tight he was afraid if he breathed too hard his heart would explode in his chest.