He would answer,
“I just want to finish this movie.”
If I went into the living room and sat beside him, within a few minutes he would stand up.
“I’m getting some water.”
“I need to check an email.”
“My back hurts. I think I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”
One evening, I made a special effort.
I had bought a new nightgown.
I did my hair.
I even wore the perfume Robert had loved on me when we were younger.
When he walked into the bedroom, he looked at me for only a few seconds.
I smiled.
“The kids have had homes of their own for years. Tomorrow is Saturday. You don’t have any reason to rush off to sleep tonight.”
He wouldn’t even look me in the eyes.
“Linda, please. I’m exhausted tonight.”
I pretended it didn’t hurt.
But when he turned his back to me, I lay there staring at him for a long time.
