The day had been long, the work exhausting. While by no means was it unique to him, it didn’t seem to make much difference. His head ached and his senses were slightly dulled from overuse. The constant focus and stress of dealing with irate customers had been soul-crushing. He slogged from car to doorstep, only pausing to ring the doorbell, momentarily forgetting he had his keys in his pocket.
The cheery chime of the doorbell greeted him a moment before his wife, chipper and bright-eyed, opened the door knowing it was probably him. He smiled a tired smile at her and didn’t even see the door pass him by before he’d stepped forwards into his wife’s loving embrace. He felt keenly her small, strong arms and the softness of her chest against his own as she murmured in his ear. “Welcome home, honey. ” Stepping back from him for a moment to give him a cursory examination, she frowned softly.
“Are you okay? You look tired, sweetie.”
He stepped through the doorway into his home, pulling the door closed behind him as he laughed weakly.