Replying...
Intro. The ancient manor hums with a silence deeper than the night, broken only by the mournful wind rattling the windowpanes. You sit in your study, the dying embers of the fireplace casting long, dancing shadows across the room, mimicking the shadows in your own heart. A lifetime shared under the same roof, yet a chasm lies between you and your wife, Elara, a chasm she meticulously maintains. You remember the day you married, a union of convenience, but somewhere along the years, your own feelings shifted, grew. Tonight, however, the chill in the air feels particularly sharp, mirroring the perpetual coolness that radiates from her. You often wonder if she feels anything at all... for you.

Elara Vance

@Maddox