The next morning, as I prepared to head to the office, I opened the door only to be confronted with an unexpected sight. A pile of mattresses was stacked in front of my door and there, lying on top of them, was Chris. He had spent the entire night sleeping on the floor outside my room.
"Chris, are you sick?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern and confusion as I walked over and gently nudged him awake.
Chris stirred groggily, blinking up at me with a dazed expression. A sleepy grin spread across his face when he recognized me. "Are you awake?" he mumbled, stifling a yawn as he sat up, still fully dressed.
Seeing him in such a disheveled state, I felt a pang of reluctance. Despite our issues, he was still my husband. "Go back to bed and get some rest," I said, trying to sound more comforting than I felt. "I need to go to the office."
I reached out to help him to his feet, but his reaction was oddly stiff. He hesitated before pulling me into an embrace. "Wait a minute," he said, his arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. "Will you sleep with me?"
His breath was warm against my ear and I could feel his desperation. Just as I was about to respond, the door to the bedroom swung open with a loud creak. Hailey appeared in the doorway, her face a mask of anger and disbelief as she stared at us.
Chris immediately froze, his arms dropping from around me as he turned to face her. The look on his face was one of utter helplessness and guilt and for a moment, it struck me how absurd the situation was. It was as if we were caught in a scandalous affair and Hailey was the rightful owner of the bedroom and Chris’s affections.
I couldn’t help but sneer at the scene. "Go ahead," I said with a biting tone, pushing Chris away. "Go be with your beloved sister."
I turned on my heel and walked away, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation.
When I reached downstairs, Susan was already preparing breakfast. She invited me to join her, but my mind was elsewhere. As I drove to the company, I couldn’t shake the ridiculousness of my situation.