I Was Married, But Never Felt Desired

I was married, owned a home and wore a wedding ring on my finger but never had felt loved by the man next to me. He was nice in all the ways that really mattered to outsiders, but every time I reached out for his love it was like feeling around in absolute darkness only to discover there was a wall between us. Finally one night, alone with him, I asked: “Do you even want me anymore?

The Green Dress He Didn’t Notice:

On a wet Tuesday night, the same sort of night that turned a sea breeze into visitations and houses to smell like salt and rotten timber. Elena cooked dinner — nothing special, just some pasta and garlic bread — but she wore the dark green dress Daniel once said he liked. He didn’t notice. There he sat at the kitchen table spread with blueprints and an empty mug of coffee.

The longest of stares at him. The way he used to drag his fingers along lines on the paper. How he was less a room than an oeuvre. That was then, when her fork landed on her plate and she softly whispered Dan-I-el… do you still want me?

That question fell between them like shattering glass in a sidewalk.

Daniel looked up. His expression didn’t change, but he put his pen down. He hesitated, as if searching for the safest answer. He said, “Ya know I love you.”