She had noticed for some time now that they postponed conversations, leaving them for a later time that never came. Tiredness excused distance, and emotional effort felt optional—something to be skipped without consequence, until exhaustion quietly replaced engagement. It was as if their familiarity stood in for intimacy.
Work consumed him, expanding until it filled evenings and weekends. Deadlines dictated moods. Calls interrupted dinners. She adjusted, minimizing her needs and maximizing her patience. She told herself this was a temporary phase to endure, unaware how easily endurance turned into habit, and habit into distance.