Sleep together?

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As I made my way up the stairs, I couldn't help but replay the events of the day in my mind.

It had started with such promise - a day spent with Erwin's family, filled with laughter, shared stories, and a sense of togetherness that had been all too rare lately.

But as the sun dipped below the horizon and we returned home, the warmth of the day seemed to fade with it.

Upon arriving at our doorstep, I silently observed Erwin's actions.

He stepped out of the car without a word, his focus solely on reaching the front door.

He didn't even spare a glance in my direction, nor did he offer to open the car door for me, a gesture he once performed effortlessly.

A pang of unease settled in my chest as I realized that we had regressed to a familiar pattern - one where Erwin was emotionally distant and cold, and I had to endure the uncertainty of our relationship.

It was as though the happiness we had shared earlier had been a mere illusion, a fleeting moment of respite in our strained marriage.

As I finally entered the house,....

I was met with an unsettling silence that hung heavily in the air.

It was a stark contrast to the vibrant and animated atmosphere of Erwin's family gathering.

Each step I took up the stairs felt like an echo of the emotional distance that had grown between us.

As I made my way up the dimly lit staircase, the events of the day replayed in my mind like a broken record.

The outing with Erwin's family had begun with such promise, the laughter and camaraderie we shared hinting at the love that had once bound us together.

However, as the day wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were merely actors in a charade, concealing the chasms that had formed in our relationship.

Upon arriving home, I quietly observed Erwin at the bar counter, his silhouette outlined by the soft, ambient light.

He seemed so distant, so consumed by his thoughts, that he didn't even notice my presence.

With a heavy heart, I decided to continue to my room without a word, allowing the chasm between us to grow wider.

Once inside the room, I began to undress, each piece of clothing a symbol of the facade I had worn throughout the day.

It was as though I had been playing a role, pretending that everything was fine when, in reality, our marriage was hanging by a fragile thread.

I left my clothes scattered on the floor, an unconscious reflection of the chaos that had invaded our lives.

The act of undressing felt like shedding layers of pretense, revealing the raw vulnerability that had been buried beneath.

It was as if I could physically feel the weight of our unspoken issues lifting with each discarded garment.

With the clothes finally cast aside, I headed to the bathroom for a shower, seeking solace in the soothing cascade of water.

The steam enveloped me, cocooning me in its warmth as I stood beneath the stream of water, lost in a labyrinth of my thoughts.

The mirror above the lavatory seemed to reflect the emptiness that had taken root in my heart, its surface devoid of the vitality that had once defined me.

Minutes, perhaps even an eternity, passed as I allowed the water to wash away the pretense and exhaustion of the day.

At that moment, I felt a profound disconnect from the person I had become, a stranger to the woman who had once shared a deep connection with Erwin.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a bathrobe and headed back to the room.

I didn't care that my hair was still damp, or that the robe clung to my skin; I was beyond caring about appearances.

As I lay on the bed, the moisture from my hair seeping into the fabric beneath me, I stared at the ceiling, lost in the cavernous depths of my thoughts.

The room itself felt like a silent witness to our struggles, a chamber that held the echoes of our arguments and the heaviness of our unspoken grievances.

It was as though the walls were closing in around me, and I couldn't escape the feeling of being trapped in a loveless marriage.

Then, like a bolt of lightning amid a storm, a series of knocks on the bedroom door shattered the silence.

My heart quickened, and for a moment, I couldn't fathom who it could be.

But deep down, I had a sinking feeling that it was Erwin, that our fragile truce was about to be tested once again.

With a resigned sigh, I got up and approached the door, my heart heavy with anticipation.

-----

As I opened the door, Erwin stood before me,...

His glossy eyes and flushed cheeks a clear indication of the drinks he had consumed earlier.

His gaze traveled the length of my body, and I couldn't miss the subtle clenching of his jaw and the darkening of his expression.

It was a look that spoke of frustration and desire, a volatile mix that added to the tension that had enveloped us.

"What are you doing here, Erwin? This isn't your room...you must have gone to the wrong one," I said, my voice steady but tinged with apprehension.

"Isn't this your room, my dear wife?" he replied.

His words laced with sarcasm that only deepened the growing divide between us.

"It's late, Erwin. If you have something to say, let's discuss it tomorrow when I'm rested," I responded, my exhaustion seeping into my words.

"Isn't it normal for married couples to sleep together?" he asked his tone now almost mocking.

I sighed, realizing that the situation had become more complicated than I had initially anticipated.

"No, it's late. Just go to your room, Erwin. I don't have the energy for this," I said, reaching for the doorknob to close the door.

However, Erwin had other plans....

He thrust himself forward, blocking the door with his body, and forcefully captured my lips in a kiss that was both aggressive and passionate.

"Hmph," I protested, my attempt to break free from his sudden embrace proving futile.

His grip on my waist was unyielding, and there was no escaping the urgency of his kisses.

With each attempt to turn my head away, he pursued my lips relentlessly, leaving me powerless in his embrace.

"No," I whispered, my voice a mix of surrender and frustration.

Erwin's kiss was demanding, and consuming, and I couldn't deny the sparks of longing it ignited within me, even amidst the turmoil of our relationship.