She Comes Home, But Feels So Far Away. Anyone Else Feel This Drift?
We've been together nearly two decades. We’ve built a life most would envy—nice home, kids, stability, even the kind of holidays we once dreamed of. On paper, we’re doing great.
But there’s something I’ve never figured out how to talk about.
Whenever my wife comes back from spending time with her friends, something changes. It’s subtle—shorter tone, more sighs, a kind of edge I can’t explain. The warmth fades. It’s like I have to re-earn my place in her space, like home feels heavier to her than out there.
I’ve never tried to control her. I want her to have her freedom, her joy, her people. But when she returns, I feel like a stranger. And every time, I wonder: is it me? Is family life that draining for her?
I don’t say this to blame. I just miss the version of her that laughs with me. The one that leans in instead of shutting down.
Anyone else ever feel this slow, quiet kind of rejection?
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