Claire thought her marriage was steady — thirteen years of quiet love, two kids, a comfortable home, and the kind of daily routine that felt safe. She and Marcus weren’t flashy, but they were solid. Or so she believed.
Marcus had changed gradually: late nights at the office, missed dinners, a growing silence that swallowed their home. When he spoke, it was mechanical — excuses about “new projects” and “tight deadlines.” Claire noticed the shift but held onto hope, convincing herself it was stress, not distance.
Then, one night, Marcus suggested a family dinner. “It’ll be good for everyone,” he said. For the first time in months, he seemed enthusiastic. Claire felt a spark of the man she used to know. She prepared the meal, ironed the tablecloth, even set out the good china. Maybe this was the beginning of a reset.
The evening started beautifully. Her mother brought a pie, his parents arrived with wine, and laughter floated easily between rooms. Marcus smiled — really smiled — and Claire thought, Maybe he’s finding his way back.
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