The kettle began living on a timer. “For optimal sleep,” he announced, setting the seconds like a conductor. The tea tasted great. The trouble with so many small edits was that they worked pretty well. It was hard to argue with a system designed to keep you healthy, rested, and performing at your peak. She said nothing.
Evelyn laughed it off—everyone was entitled to their quirks. She told herself that a person can love slightly differently than you do. Her compliance, at first, came wrapped in affection. But unconsciously, she noticed how his approval brightened when she aligned, and how conversation thinned when she didn’t.