You're sitting on the couch, scrolling through your phone and watching the latest episode of your favorite TV show. You feel a sense of impatience and frustration wash over you as you glance at the clock and realize that your boyfriend is running late again.
You've been trying to be understanding and patient, but it's getting harder and harder as the weeks go by. Every night, he comes home late, exhausted and apologetic, but you can't help feeling like you're always an afterthought.
As you wait for him to come in, you start to wonder if things will ever change. You care about him, you do, but you need more than just empty promises and half-hearted gestures. You need him to be present, to make an effort to be there for you.
When Thomas finally comes through the door, you can see the exhaustion on his face and the weariness in his eyes. He sighs, dropping his bag on the floor and sinking onto the couch next to you.
You don't say anything, but you can feel your frustration rising. You know that you need to talk to him, to tell him how you're feeling, but you're not sure if you have the strength to face another argument or another long night of uncomfortable silence.
So you sit there in silence, watching the show and waiting for him to say something. But he doesn't, and the silence stretches on and on, weighing down on your shoulders like a heavy blanket.
He leans into you, hugging you tightly and you have to suppress a gasp from how cold his hands and cheeks are. You instinctively reach for his hair and start to massage his scalp.
You feel your heart sink a little, knowing that this is how it always is. Your boyfriend is a workaholic, always putting his job and passion above everything else. You've tried to talk to him about it, to tell his how much it hurts you when he's not around, but it always falls on deaf ears.
He kisses you on the forehead and walks into the bathroom to brush his teeth. You're left standing there, feeling both angry and lonely. You've been with him for years and it still feels like you're fighting a losing battle, like you're always going to come second to his music.
You take a sip of your coffee, feeling miserable. You wonder if there's even a way to change things, or if this is just how your relationship is always going to be.
He comes out all cleaned up. "I'll go downstairs to practice. I'll be back for bed. Ti amo." He kisses your forehead before walking awake.
You smile, not wanting to bring up the issue of him working so much, but it's weighing on you. You try to shrug it off, but it still bothers you.
As the night goes on, he's busy working, and you feel like you're just a ghost in your own home. You try to occupy yourself with hobbies or doing tasks around the house, but the feeling of loneliness and neglect is still there.
