บท 2: Chapter 2
Night, 10:15 PM
The cold air of the evening brushed past Daniel as he stood outside his house, repeatedly pressing the doorbell. His breath came out in short, irritated puffs, visible in the chilly night. He had been standing there for at least two minutes, the door remaining firmly shut. His mind, tired from the long hours of work, was beginning to brew with annoyance.
Why is no one opening the door? he thought to himself. The dimly lit front porch felt unusually silent. After another ring, the door finally creaked open, revealing Fiona. Her eyes looked groggy, her hair slightly disheveled. It was clear that she had just woken up.
Daniel: "Why did it take so long to open the door?" Daniel's voice was sharper than he intended. "Where is everyone? Didn't anyone hear me ringing the bell?"
Fiona blinked, still adjusting to the sudden wakefulness. She shifted slightly and then sighed.
Fiona: "Mom and Dad went to bed early today. Mom wasn't feeling well, so I gave her some medicine." She rubbed her eyes. "I didn't realize you were coming so late. I must have fallen asleep waiting for you."
Daniel's face softened a little. His earlier frustration eased, but not completely.
Daniel: "What happened to Mom?" His voice had dropped its sharp edge, now laced with mild concern.
Fiona: "Nothing serious. She just said she was feeling a bit dizzy, probably from exhaustion." As she spoke, Fiona moved closer to Daniel and began helping him take off his coat, the way she always did after a long day. It was a gesture she had become accustomed to, a sign of care.
Daniel: "Oh, okay." He glanced toward the stairs, imagining his mother resting. The irritation lingered but was now mingled with exhaustion.
Fiona, sensing Daniel's mood, hesitated before asking, "Why were you so late coming home from the office today?" She tried to keep her tone casual, but Daniel could hear the faint trace of worry behind her words.
Daniel: "There was an important meeting at 2 PM, and it ran late," he replied with a sigh, loosening his tie. He was trying to explain himself, but a part of him resented having to do so. The stress of the day weighed heavily on him.
Fiona: "You could have called and let me know that you'd be late." Fiona's voice was gentle but firm. She wasn't accusing him, but there was an unspoken expectation. The house had been eerily quiet in his absence, and she had waited.
Daniel's eyes flickered with a hint of impatience. "I didn't get the time," he said, a touch defensively. "And since I was getting late, you should have understood that I was probably busy with something, which is why I couldn't call."
Fiona pressed her lips together. She didn't want to argue, but his words stung. You should have understood felt like a dismissal, as if her concerns were unwarranted.
Fiona: "Hmm..." She sighed, stepping back from him. "You go freshen up. I've set everything on the table."
Daniel nodded but remained standing where he was. "I'm not hungry. I already had dinner outside."
At that moment, Fiona's heart sank. She had spent the last hour preparing dinner, imagining them sitting together, sharing a meal after the long day. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought to keep them from spilling over. Inside, her thoughts raced, I waited for you without eating, thinking we would have dinner together, and you didn't even bother to tell me that you ate outside.
Fiona turned away, her chest tightening with the weight of her emotions. She didn't want Daniel to see her cry, not over something that seemed so small but felt so significant to her.
Daniel, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her, casually remarked, "If you haven't eaten yet, go ahead and eat!" His voice was indifferent, almost cold.
Fiona didn't respond. She moved silently around the room, putting the untouched dishes away. The clinking of plates was the only sound that filled the space. Daniel, tired and worn out, didn't notice the change in her demeanor. He assumed everything was fine, that she was simply tired, like him.
Without a word, Fiona headed upstairs to their bedroom. The night had turned colder, not just in temperature but in the silence that now stretched between them.
---
After a while...
Daniel, having freshened up, entered the bedroom to find Fiona already lying in bed. Normally, she would wait for him, staying up until they both retired for the night. But tonight was different. Her back was turned toward him, her breathing steady, but he could sense that she wasn't asleep.
She must be really tired, Daniel thought, not giving it much more consideration. He flicked off the lights and got into bed beside her.
Fiona lay awake, her eyes wide open in the dark. Her mind raced, replaying the events of the evening. Daniel's indifference hurt her deeply. It wasn't just about the dinner—it was about the growing distance she felt between them. He seemed more absorbed in his work, less attentive to the little moments they once shared. Fiona blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. She didn't want to cry, but her heart ached. Does he still love me? she wondered. The thought weighed heavily on her.
As the minutes ticked by, Fiona finally allowed herself to cry. Silent sobs shook her body, muffled by the pillow. Next to her, Daniel slept soundly, unaware of the emotional turmoil his wife was going through. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a restless sleep, her pillow damp with tears.
---
Morning, 7:00 AM
The morning sun crept through the blinds, casting soft light into the room. Fiona, as usual, was the first to wake up. She moved quietly, careful not to wake Daniel as she slipped out of bed. The routine of preparing breakfast gave her something to focus on, something to anchor herself in the midst of the emotional storm from the previous night.
In the kitchen, the familiar sounds of pots and pans clanging together filled the air. Fiona moved mechanically, her thoughts still heavy. I'll just go on as usual, she told herself. There's no point in making a scene.
After finishing breakfast, she went upstairs to wake Daniel for work. He was already stirring, half-awake by the time she entered the room.
Fiona: "It's time to get up. I've made breakfast."
Daniel nodded groggily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Fiona moved closer, helping him get ready. As she tied his tie, their eyes met briefly, but neither of them spoke about the night before. There was a tension in the air, but it remained unspoken.
Daniel: "You go ahead, I'll come in a bit," he said after she finished with his tie.
Fiona: "Alright." Her voice was soft, but there was a distance in her tone that Daniel didn't seem to notice.
Fiona went downstairs, leaving Daniel to finish getting ready. She stood by the dining table, absentmindedly rearranging the plates. A few minutes later, Daniel came down and started eating breakfast in silence. The clinking of utensils against the plate was the only sound that broke the stillness.
Daniel: "You should eat too," he said, not looking up from his food.
Fiona: "I'll eat later. You finish first." Her response was automatic, devoid of emotion. Daniel, absorbed in his own thoughts, didn't push the matter further.
After finishing his meal, Daniel stood up and began preparing to leave. Fiona quietly helped him with his coat, her hands moving in practiced motions. She wanted to say something, to address the growing gap between them, but the words stuck in her throat.
Daniel: "Tell the driver to bring the car," he said, checking his phone as he spoke.
Driver: "Okay, sir."
As Daniel was about to walk out the door, Fiona called out to him.
Fiona: "Daniel!"
He turned, looking slightly puzzled. "Yes, what is it?"
Fiona hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you going to have lunch outside today, or should I send it with the driver?"
Daniel glanced at her briefly, as though the question was inconsequential. "No, I won't eat outside today."
Fiona: "Alright."
With a brief nod, Daniel said, "Hmm, bye." He walked out the door, got into the car, and left for work, the sound of the engine fading as he drove away.
Fiona stood by the door, watching him leave. The weight in her chest had not lifted. She sighed, closing the door behind her. "Bye... take care." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
---
As the day moved forward, Fiona went through the motions of her daily routine. But inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping away—something she wasn't sure she knew how to save.
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