Daniela pulled into her driveway at 6:30. She'd had a hellish day at the office and was relieved to see home. She was disappointed at the empty space in the garage next to her. "He's not here yet." She sighs. To say that she was frustrated with her husband was an understatement. Most men use the excuse that they are working late in order to cover up their indiscretions. But Sergio really was working late. She was unsure exactly which was his first love, her or his research. She never had to worry about him at strip clubs or picking up women in bars like some women do. Instead he was unfaithful with his work. If she didn't call and pester him then he'd never come home. She rarely saw him.
Three years ago they moved to the East coast so that he could take a new job at a more prestigious university. He was department chair here, which meant that he would finally get the recognition and freedom of expression that he deserved. Moving wasn't a problem for her. She could see patients anywhere. But had she known science would take her husband away, she would've put up more of a fight.
Now she rarely saw her husband and when she did, he was overworked and preoccupied. She was sure he was analyzing data in his head while they made love. He would come home, always late, eat, shower and go to bed. She had to bring up sex if it wasn't the weekend. And even then it was so mechanical.
Their marriage had lost its sizzle. Academia had stolen it. Now they were coming and going with only formalities and a dry kiss or I love you. She'd known for a while that the spice was gone. But what could she do. She knew that he still loved her, and she still loved him. They'd just grown accustomed to this life that they were leading. She even bought a few books and pieces of lingerie to get his attention. But he barely noticed. When he did, he would compliment her and nothing more. She wanted to say something. But what? She would never want to get in the way of his work, his passion, or nag him unnecessarily. But she missed the man that she married so long ago. Things between them used to be so hot and heavy. She still masturbated to some of the exciting and raunchy things they used to do. How could she get that back? It isn't as though they had a bad marriage. They rarely fought, still laughed together, when work didn't get in the way. She just wanted to have his attention the way that she did before.
As she sat in the bathtub she thought long and hard about her husband and the direction of their love life. She was going to have to initiate some sort of change. She rested her head against the pillow and relaxed further into the water. The bubbles felt like silk over her skin. Her nipples hardened at the feeling of warmth that surrounded her. Memories of the past floated into and out of her head. She remembered herself as more bold then she is now. It was then that she decided to do something about it. She rose from the tub with a sense of control as she went into the closet for her coat.
Sergio was tired. He'd been grumpy all week due to his lack of sleep and overexertion. His brain was on autopilot. First his assistants took too long to gather the research statistics. Then the human subjects committee took too long to approve his research. And of course by now his sample size was dwindling. As he looked at his wedding photo, he thought he would never see home again. And with that thought his brain popped back into research mode. He wanted to finish. Finish so he could leave. Daniela would be upset no doubt. She had every right to be. He knew that he would have to buy her something or take her somewhere special to make up for his neglect. He hit the books again. Hard.
After an hour or so of calculations, he had to rest. The tension was built up behind his eyes. He was exhausted. The leather creaked as he got up from his chair. He glanced at the couch on the other side of his office. He'd napped there so many times just to give his brain a rest in between thoughts and meetings and classes and students. He opted instead for a walk to rejuvenate his brain for the next hour or so of research. Then he was going home to his beautiful wife and the life he too often neglected.
Daniela pulled up into the faculty parking lot at the university. She parked next to her husband. It was easy; his was the only car there. A lonely little car just like the lonely little lit office on the third floor. She began to walk up the stairs. She wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen when she entered Mr. Edward's, Department Chair of Natural and Social Sciences, office. She was surprised when she reached the third floor, last door on the left to find the office empty. She paused for a moment then smiled to herself.