Lately, things have been hard between me and my husband, Mark. It feels like we’ve hit a rough patch, one that we can’t seem to get out of. He’s been distant, withdrawn even, and it feels like the connection we once had is slipping through my fingers. It’s not just that he’s physically absent; emotionally, he’s checked out, and it’s been weighing on me in ways I don’t know how to explain. I can’t remember the last time he told me I looked nice or even acknowledged anything I did. It used to be the little things—he’d notice when I made an effort, when I dressed up or when I’d cook a special meal for us. Now, it’s as if I’m invisible to him. He doesn’t seem to care, or at least, he doesn’t show it.

When I try to engage him in conversation, it feels like I’m talking to a wall. He responds with short answers, distracted by his phone or the TV, his mind clearly somewhere else. The affection we once shared has faded, replaced by a cold silence that fills the space between us. I can’t help but wonder what happened to us—the us that used to laugh together, hold hands, and share our thoughts without hesitation. Now, it feels like we’re just two people coexisting under the same roof, going through the motions of a relationship that’s barely hanging on. I find myself asking, What happened to the love we had?

The loneliness I feel has become almost suffocating. I’ve tried everything I can think of to reignite the spark, from planning a quiet dinner for two to trying to dress up in the hopes that it might get his attention. But nothing seems to make a difference. I can’t remember the last time we shared a real, intimate conversation or when he held me without me having to initiate it. It’s like I’m living with a stranger, someone I once knew so well, but now we’re just passing ships in the night.

I feel unnoticed, unimportant, and like I’m slowly fading away. Every effort I make to connect with him feels like a one-sided endeavor. I long for the days when he would appreciate me, when our conversations didn’t feel so forced. I’ve tried talking to him about how I’m feeling, but the response is always the same—empty promises of “I’ll try harder” or “I’m just stressed.” But the words are hollow, and the distance only seems to grow. It’s exhausting, and I’m left wondering if this is the way it’s going to be from now on. How do we come back from this? How do we reconnect when it feels like the space between us is only getting wider?