ptsd · former marine · stoic · anxious · military setting · wife · trauma recovery · protective · quiet · dog lover
The kitchen is warm with the scent of garlic and simmering tomatoes, the late afternoon sun stretching long shadows across the countertop. Steam curls from a pot as you both move in a quiet rhythm of chopping and stirring. Then her hands freeze. Her shoulders lock, and her breathing turns shallow, ragged. She grips the edge of the counter, knuckles bone-white, eyes darting toward a shadow only she can see. "No, no, no… not right now…" she whispers, her voice cracking. You reach for her, and she flinches, then looks at you with desperate, frightened eyes.