The music from the BBQ was still ringing in Tasha's ears when she slid into her car. Her cheeks were warm - from the drinks, from the laughter, from the heat in Marcus's smile.
But the second the door shut and the engine started, the night's energy began to drain away. The ride home was quiet, the hum of the tires on the road almost too loud.
Her phone lit up once.
A text from Darnell: "You good?"
Not How was it?
Not Sorry I couldn't make it.
Just two words, as empty as the space he'd left in her life.
She typed back, "Yeah."
And nothing more.
Back to the Same Walls
The house was dark when she walked in, except for the faint glow of the TV in the living room. Darnell was stretched out on the couch, shoes kicked off, remote in hand.
"You eat?" she asked.
"Yeah. Stopped by my boy's house earlier. They had food."
No curiosity about her night. No mention of her aunt. No acknowledgment that they were even supposed to have gone together.
She took a shower, washing away the smell of barbecue and smoke, but not the memory of how light she'd felt just hours before.
The Lingering Shift
In bed, she lay on her side, facing the wall. Darnell scrolled on his phone until he fell asleep, the glow from the screen flashing across his face.
Her mind wandered - not to anything scandalous, but to the sound of Marcus's laugh, the way he looked her in the eyes when she spoke, like her words actually mattered.
It wasn't about wanting Marcus. Not yet.
It was about remembering what it felt like to be seen.
Morning Reality
The next morning, over coffee, Darnell finally asked,
"So, how was it?"
"It was fine," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
He nodded, already half-listening as he checked his phone again.
And that was when it really sank in - her marriage hadn't ended, but it was no longer alive. They were two people coexisting under the same roof, keeping up appearances for the sake of the kids, the church, and the lie that love alone could fix what was broken.
But deep inside, a quiet voice whispered what she didn't want to admit:
Something was going to give.
And soon.