UNDER PRESSURE

Alexander was beginning to feel the strain in his marriage. He noticed how Amelia had been acting differently since that morning. Her usually bright demeanor had dimmed, replaced by a coldness that he couldn't quite understand. After their conversation, when she brushed him off and said she just wanted to be alone, Alexander felt a pang of guilt and confusion. He had no idea what he had done to upset her so much, and the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

"Amelia," he tried talking to her again, "why are you giving me attitude? What did I do?"

Amelia turned to him, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions—hurt, anger, and something else he couldn't quite place. "I just want to be alone, Alexander. Can't you see that? I need space."

Her words hit him like a cold splash of water. Alexander sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. He wanted to fix things, to understand what was going on with her, but Amelia's cold demeanor was a wall he couldn't seem to brea