As the afternoon sun cast a gentle glow over the bustling street, Celie and I stepped out of the cozy cafe where we had spent hours engrossed in heartfelt conversation. 

Emotions swirled within me as we said our goodbyes. We pressed into an endearing hug, cheeks touching lightly, sharing a moment of mutual affection and closeness.

"Thank you for today, Celie," I said softly, trying to convey the depth of my feelings. 

Without realizing it, I gently massaged my scalp on the left side, my fingers tracing a path through my coils soothingly.

Her smile was tender, and her eyes reflected the love imbued in our years of friendship.

"No, thank you, Oorun, for letting me in. You are my soul, and I am sad that you've been hurting," she replied, her voice nostalgic and warm.

I watched as Celie walked towards her car, her figure slowly receding down the quiet street.

I did not go into my car right away; instead, I brought the phone up toward my lips.

"Siri, call my husband," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

The phone rang twice before Adrian's voice came through, warm and familiar.

"Hey, love, is the sisterhood reunion brunch finally finished?" he asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

I leaned against the cool metal of my car, forcing my gaze skyward. The morning's lie sat heavy in my throat.

"Yeah," I muttered. "Uh, Adrian, I... I think we need to go to marriage counseling."

Silence fell and stretched, thick and suffocating. Then, a single, hesitant question came.

"Why?"

The phone felt heavy against my ear. My defenses flared, and I felt a primal urge to justify myself. But alongside it, I felt a desperate need for comfort. One hand drifted up, unconsciously hugging my stomach.

"I just... I don't feel settled, you know?" I began, choosing my words carefully. "Like something's off, and maybe... maybe we need to change things."

His reply was a torrent of words, frustration lacing every syllable. "Change things? If you need to change, why must it mean therapy for us? Shouldn't you figure that out on your own first? I know what I want, Oorun, and frankly, I'm getting tired of—"

The tirade stopped abruptly.

I can hear him breathing, sharp intakes of air and harsh exhales.

It was the most passionate retort he had expressed to me in years. He was always controlled and quiet, never wanting to release the hold on his emotions.

Although we had not been here before, I knew this was the end of the discussion.

So, I looked at the red button on my phone screen, my thumb hovering.

"Okay, Adrian," I said before ending the call with a resolute expel of my breath. 

......