I Heard the Garage Door and Didn’t Want My Husband Home Yet

Dear Delyara, I had ten more minutes of peace before he got there. I knew it. I watched the clock. Then the garage door started opening and instead of feeling comfort or partnership or the normal happy relief of another adult walking into the house, I felt this drop inside me. Because his arrival, even on good days, means another emotional atmosphere enters the room. Another body to read. Another mood to work around or join. Another person with needs, opinions, hunger, tiredness, questions. I hate admitting that. I also think it’s real. He came in and kissed my cheek. I kissed him back. Nothing was wrong. The feeling still sat in me for another hour like a secret stain.