THE EDGE OF PATIENCE

Later that night, Amelia heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, but she didn’t care enough to go downstairs. It was as if the energy had been drained from her completely, leaving her with nothing but a hollow ache in her chest. She sat there on the bed, staring blankly at the movie playing on the screen. The bright, colorful scenes did little to lift her spirits. Instead, they only seemed to mock her with their cheerfulness, contrasting sharply with the storm brewing inside her.

When Alexander walked into the house, he assumed Amelia was asleep. He moved quietly, his footsteps soft on the carpet as he made his way upstairs. He didn’t want to wake her, knowing how exhausting the past few days had been for both of them. But when he opened the door to their bedroom, he was surprised to see her sitting up in bed, her face illuminated by the flickering light of the television.

She looked distant, her gaze unfocused, as if she was lost in a world far removed from the one aro