26. 35 Years Ago: Growing More Distant

At 9 pm, the house quietened as Henry returned, fatigue marking his face. He briefly nodded to Edith and headed straight for the basement workshop, his teenage children engrossed in their own worlds around the house. One child’s greeting barely reached Henry as he descended, lost in anticipation of his solitary work. The house, filled with the distant sounds of music and screens, slipped into a hushed reverence as time passed. Well past midnight, Henry reemerged, his weary steps echoing through the quiet home. Edith, with a mix of concern and resignation, had waited with dinner, hoping for a shared family meal. Her soft inquiry about his well-being met with a tired response, as the night settled back into its familiar pattern of missed connections and silent meals.