It felt surreal. Us laughing like that, giggling over breakfast like nothing ever went wrong. Like the distance between us had never even been there. Maybe it just needed a small push. And thank god I took that step.
After we finished breakfast, I started cleaning the dishes while she went to take a bath. The clinks of plates and running water felt oddly peaceful, like things were settling. Like maybe we could go back to how we used to be.
She came back a little later, drying her hair with a towel. I turned and asked her, casually, "Today's the last day, right? Helping the old man?"
She was quiet for a second, then nodded slowly. Her voice cracked slightly when she spoke.
"Hmm… I don't think I have to help out anymore."
I smiled. "Really?" I asked.
She looked a bit low on energy, like she didn't really want to talk about it. She replied, "He said he's okay now. Doesn't need help anymore."
Honestly, I was just glad. No more going to the old man's house. That alone felt like a weight off my chest.
"To be honest," I said, "I'm actually pretty surprised and impressed. You managed to stick with it all this time. Honestly, I thought you'd regret it after two days, but not a single complaint from you."
She replied with a half-smile, "Well… even I'm surprised by a lot of things about myself lately."
The way she said sounded weird. Lately??...
Maybe she was just tired. I didn't want to press. Not after the kind of morning we just had. I didn't want to ruin that.
She quickly added, "Anyway! It's a brilliant day, don't you think? How about we go watch a movie today?"
Her sudden enthusiasm felt like a jolt of fresh air. I smiled, relieved and happy with her suggestion. "Sounds perfect. I'll wrap up my work quickly."
I headed to the workroom upstairs. There wasn't much pending today. I finished everything in a few hours and came back down.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard laughters. Hers, and another woman's?
I stepped closer to the living room and peeked around the corner.
It was her. The new neighbor. Both of them sitting on the couch, already giggling like they'd known each other for years. The sound of her laughter, so carefree and light, made something warm rest in my chest.
Still, I cleared my throat and called out, "Ahem, ahem… mind if I interrupt?"
The neighbor turned to me with a playful grin and said, "Of course! It's rude to interrupt two beautiful women having a deep, important conversation." She winked. "But I'll let it slide this time."
I chuckled and made my way to the couch to join the conversation. Her name was Lina. Last night during their move-in, I didn't get a proper look at her in the dim lighting, but now with the morning sun pouring in through the windows and her sitting this close, it was impossible not to notice how stunning she was.
Her features were soft yet striking, the kind that caught your eye without demanding attention. I caught myself staring at her. She wasn't more beautiful than my wife, of course not, but something about her aura pulled at the senses in a way that was hard to ignore.
She noticed my gaze and turned with a polite smile, her eyes holding mine gently. Not flirtatiously, not directly, just enough to make the space between us feel warmer.
"We're really so glad to have met you both," lina said, her voice as smooth as honey. "It's nice seeing another young married couple around. You two… just fit. You can feel the connection."
I nodded, smiling. "We feel the same. It's good to have neighbors we can actually talk to."
"It's more than talk," lina said lightly, glancing between me and my wife. "You two look so good together. It's like your energy balances each other out. You can see the care, the way she looks at you. That doesn't happen in every marriage."
My wife chuckled softly. "You're too kind. I mean, look at you."
She touched her chest with playful surprise. "Me? Please, I look like I've just moved a hundred boxes. You're glowing."
They both laughed, a warm and easy air that settled between them like old friends. It was nice, watching them bond so quickly. Just yesterday we hadn't even known their names, and now they were sitting close, sipping tea, complimenting each other like they'd grown up on the same street.
Then she grinned. "Hey, let's not forget about our husband's. They aren't so bad themselves."
We all laughed together, enjoying the conversation. Then my wife stood up, brushing invisible crumbs off her lap as she headed toward the kitchen.
"I'll grab the other tray," she said cheerfully. "Be right back."
As soon as she left the room, there was a shift. Not in the air, but in Lina's focus. She turned to me with that same soft smile but held her eyes on mine longer this time. There was nothing inappropriate in her expression, and yet I felt it—something delicate, like an invisible hand brushing across my chest.
"I hope I'm not overstepping," she said quietly, "but… you seem little tensed. Like something's been weighing on you."
Her voice was calm, sincere. Still, her words caught me off guard. I hadn't realized it was that visible on my face.
"I guess I've had a lot on my mind," I said, choosing my words carefully.
"I can guess the reason," she said, her tone dropping into something hushed, almost conspiratorial. "Honestly, if I had a wife like yours… I'd be stressed too."
I looked at her, unsure how to respond. She wasn't teasing. There was no mockery in her tone. She was being open and comforting.
"It's normal," she added softly, "for men to feel that way when they're with someone like her. You want to protect her. Watch over her. It's natural."
Her words echoed something buried deep inside me, something I had been wrestling with silently for days now.
"Doesn't your husband get… bothered by that?" I asked, lowering my voice instinctively. "The attention you must get?"
She let out a quiet breath, then smiled again. "Never. He has always been very secured about me, about our relationship and the reason was TRUST. It was about us. About trust. And maybe thats the reason I am so in love with him. You can't tie your wife down with fear. That only drives a wedge. She needs your support… not your worry."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. It sounded so simple when she said it.
Her words worked their way in.
"I know," I said quietly. "Maybe I'm just holding onto things I should've let go.
She nodded slowly. "Exactly. You know, most marriages don't fall apart because of what one person does. They break down from the doubts that grows in silence. Insecurity eats away at connection. And honestly, you have nothing to worry about."
I looked at her, trying to read past her eyes, but there was only calm there. A strange calm that made me feel both comforted and disarmed.
"She loves you," she added. "It's obvious. You're a good man. Just give her the space to be herself, without fear. Trust is the most sensual thing in a marriage."
Her words settled into me slowly, each one vanishing away a little of the tension I hadn't even realized I was carrying. I took a deep breath, and for the first time in days, it felt like I wasn't bracing for something.
My wife returned just then, tray in hand and smile still bright. The moment passed like it had never happened. Lina stood with a soft stretch and said she should probably head back.
"It was lovely talking to you both," she said, adjusting her loose cardigan gently. "And hey, I'm always around. You know, I dabble a little in relationship coaching. If you two ever feel any weird tension or just want to talk things out… I'm here."
She stood by the door and turned back with a bright smile. "Anyway, I'll let you two enjoy the rest of your day. It really was lovely meeting you both."
My wife smiled back warmly. "You too. Let's definitely catch up again soon."
Lina gave a small wave, then glanced at me one last time with a soft, knowing smile. Just… warm. Like she was reminding me about the conversation.
And then she was gone.
I stood there quietly. My wife moved around in the background, but I stayed still for a moment, just letting the silence settle.
I felt refreshed. Clear-headed. Like I'd taken a long breath after being underwater for too long.
This was exactly what I needed.
Like someone shows up at just the right moment, says the right thing, and somehow makes you believe again. The conversation, brief as it was, left a hopeful warmth in my chest.
She felt like a godsend.
Maybe not just for me, but for this relationship I'd been holding together with unsure hands.
Maybe she'd help me find the strength to hold it a little tighter. A little better.
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