Domestic Husbands

Chapter 1

I love...

I love you..

I love us..

I love what we have...

These are what I say in my head as Callum and I are in another heated argument, or so I think. It's more one sided as he is shouting at me. I can't lip read him when he shouts and so I just let him continue as I repeat over and over how sorry I am for whatever I have done this time to upset him. I know he's trying. He's trying to get through to me, he's facing me and making eye contact, speaking slowly and that, but it's not just about that. He's shouting. He's hurt and i've done that to him.

Why are ... .... th.. Ben?

What? I think as I look confused, focusing so hard on the lips that I just want to kiss. I know that won't help the situation though. Still doesn't stop the thought crossing my mind. God he's so hot when he's angry

 * clearly* 

Why are you like this Ben? 

You push everyone away until there is no-one left. I love you but I can't do this. You're a train wreck and you need to accept who you are now.  I can't help you anymore and even if I could, would you let me? No of course not. Why?... Ben Mitchell can't accept help from anyone.

We are both crying now. One of us with passion for the words that were just spoken as his heart is breaking and one because he can't hear what the other is trying desperately to tell him. I turn away, I can't keep pretending that I can hear him. I know it secretly annoys him that he has to repeat every sentence 100 times for me to understand and even then I just nod and pretend I do ,when in reality I am so alone and lost. 

I turn to face the kitchen wall. Nothing special about it, it's just not directly facing Callum. I look up at the pinboard with tears streaming down my face. There is a picture. A picture of Callum, me and my daughter Lexi all looking like a perfect little family. I remember the day it was taken, at the Christmas fair. We were such a perfect happy family then. Everything was ok, no worries, no hearing loss and certainly no arguments. What I would give to go back to that time. It was only a few months ago but it feels like a lifetime.