I’ve always tried to be attentive and loving, pouring my heart into our marriage and making sure James felt cared for. But lately, it feels like he’s stopped seeing me entirely. There was a time when his eyes would light up just at the sight of me, when he couldn’t help but smile if I walked into the room. Now, it’s as if I’ve faded into the background, a shadow he barely acknowledges.

Our marriage used to be full of passion and intimacy. We shared everything—our hopes, our fears, our dreams. I can still remember the way he used to reach for my hand without thinking, or how he’d pull me close for no reason at all. But now, everything feels like a routine, a series of motions we go through without feeling.

I’ve gone out of my way to try to rekindle what we had. I’ve planned thoughtful surprises, cooked his favorite meals, even made an effort to look my best in the outfits I know he once adored. But no matter what I do, James doesn’t seem to notice. His responses are so detached, so automatic, that I wonder if he even realizes I’m trying.

The worst part is the loneliness. It’s not just that he doesn’t see me—it’s that I feel like I’ve lost him, the version of him who made me feel special and loved. I miss the laughter, the connection, the spark that once defined us.

Now, I sit here wondering if it’s all slipping through my fingers. I long for him to look at me the way he used to, to see me, really see me, and remind me that I’m not just a shadow in the home we built together.