Chapter 2: Fears and Frustrations

The silence between them was deafening, as Lucy waited for Tim to respond. But instead of opening up, Tim seemed to retreat further into his shell. Lucy felt a pang of frustration and hurt, wondering if Tim was still attracted to her. "Tim, what's going on?" Lucy asked, her voice laced with concern. "You're pulling away from me, and I don't understand why." Tim sighed, rubbing his temples. "I told you, I don't want to hurt you." Lucy shook her head, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "You're not listening to me, Tim. I've been healed for weeks. I'm fine. But even if I wasn't, I need you to understand that intimacy isn't just about physical contact. It's about connection, about feeling close to each other." Tim looked at her, his eyes searching hers. But Lucy could see the fear and uncertainty still lingering there. "Maybe I'm just not feeling it right now," Tim said, his voice gruff. Lucy's heart sank. "Not feeling it? What does that even mean? You're my husband, Tim. We're supposed to be a team, a partnership. But right now, it feels like you're pulling away from me, and I don't know how to fix it." The argument escalated, with Lucy and Tim saying things they didn't mean. Lucy accused Tim of not being attracted to her anymore, of using their new parenthood as an excuse to avoid intimacy. Tim, feeling defensive, told Lucy that she wasn't understanding his concerns, that he was only trying to protect her. As the night wore on, the tension between them grew. They said things they couldn't take back, and the hurt and anger lingered in the air. Finally, in exhaustion, they stopped talking, and the silence between them was oppressive. Lucy turned away from Tim, feeling tears streaming down her face. She didn't know how to fix this, how to get Tim to understand her. And as she lay there, she wondered if things would ever go back to the way they were before. The next morning, Lucy woke up to find Tim already out of bed, getting ready for his shift. They exchanged a brief, awkward kiss, but the tension between them was still palpable. As Tim left for work, Lucy felt a pang of sadness. She didn't know how to fix this, how to get Tim to open up to her again. But she was determined to try. She knew that their relationship was worth fighting for, and she was willing to do whatever it took to get them back on track. The day ahead of her was long and uncertain, but Lucy knew one thing - she was going to make sure that Tim understood her, that he knew how she felt. And she was going to do it, no matter what it took.