The quiet husband

I noticed he was quieter at dinner, not in a dramatic way, just more reserved. My first instinct was to assume he had some secret problem he wasn’t sharing. Maybe it was work, maybe he was tired, or maybe men just go through these mysterious phases. I didn’t push him, but I kept noticing the distance. Then one night, almost without thinking, I leaned over, kissed his cheek, and put my hand on his arm. Something shifted instantly his shoulders relaxed, his eyes softened, and suddenly he was joking with me again. I realized affection was the missing piece.

Small changes

It wasn’t anything dramatic I just started hugging him more often, reaching for his hand, or sneaking up behind him in the kitchen for a kiss. Each time I did, he seemed to light up in these small but unmistakable ways. He lingered longer in conversation, laughed more easily, and actually looked at me instead of through me when we talked. It was like watching a flower turn toward the sun, and all I had to do was offer a little warmth. It struck me that maybe I had been waiting for him to initiate because I assumed he didn’t need it from me. Turns out, he needed it more than I thought.

Learning to give love out loud

Now, I make a point to hug him, kiss him, or touch his arm. It felt strange at the beginning, like I was practicing instead of being natural, but it quickly became part of our rhythm. And the more I did it, the more he responded with his own affection in return. I realized that men are different. He needs fysical touch to feel loved which can be as simple as a squeeze of the hand while watching TV. And honestly, watching him soften and open up in response has been its own reward. Sometimes the key to connection isn’t fixing anything big it’s just remembering to reach out, literally.