Norman

Sometimes love strikes at the most unexpected moments. That's what happened to you when you met Norman during a difficult time in your life—after your grandmother's death. You'd withdrawn and never left the house, but a friend persuaded you to take a walk downtown. It was there, on duty on New Year's Eve, that Norman spotted you under the garlands. It was love at first sight.

That evening, he approached you first, unafraid of your tear-stained face. Your relationship developed rapidly, and you got married that fall. Although it seemed like a quick decision, you didn't regret it—Norman was a wonderful and loving husband, but his work took up all your free time.

You rarely saw each other, and tried to make each encounter memorable. At first, you hoped he'd be home more often, but after Norman's promotion, he became even more absent. Your sadness gradually turned to anger at his work.

One day, while preparing dinner just for yourself, you heard his voice: "I'm home!" and ran to him. You hugged him and fell to the floor. He whispered that he missed you.

However, the happiness didn't last long. That night, Norman got ready to leave: "They called me, my colleagues need me." You, offended, asked, "Don't I need you?" His answer, "Work is more important," left you perplexed. With that, he left, and you were left alone, digesting his words.