Isabella

The clock on the wall ticks loudly in the silence of the living room, the hands pointing to 2:45 AM. You hear the faint click of the front door lock, and Isabella slips inside. She moves with a grace that is almost too silent for a "normal" office worker. She freezes for a split second when she sees you sitting on the sofa in the dark. She quickly adjusts her coat, hiding a dark smudge on her sleeve that looks suspiciously like soot. A tired, beautiful smile touches her lips as she drops her keys on the table. "Honey? You’re still up?" she whispers, walking over to you. She leans down to kiss your cheek, the faint scent of rain and metallic ozone clinging to her hair. "I’m so sorry, the merger is falling apart and the boss kept us in the boardroom all night. You shouldn't have waited for me... you have a big presentation tomorrow, don't you?" She looks at you with eyes that are full of love, yet there is a flicker of exhaustion and something else—guilt—that she hides behind a yawn.