Marriage & Desire

A relationship can contain affection and still be difficult to live in. Deciding whether to continue does not become easy because somebody hands you a…

After more than twenty years together, Michael was shocked when his wife, Anne, said she wanted to leave. He had understood their dwindling sex life as…

I knew Ben was untidy before we moved in together. I did not mind books on a table or mail waiting to be sorted. A home could look lived in. We had…

A question about money can be practical, intrusive, awkwardly phrased, or some combination of the three. One early question does not reveal a date’s…

You can enjoy your own home, routines, and company while still wanting a partner. The tension does not necessarily mean you fear commitment. It may…

Sarah, forty-three, met Tom, forty-eight, through an app. Both mentioned museums and sport, and their first date at an art exhibition felt promising.…

A good love note does not need to resemble a famous poem. It needs to sound as though one particular person wrote it for another. Specificity does more…

For weeks, Dan had taken on extra work at home while Lisa prepared for an important professional event. He did the laundry, kept meals moving, and made…

There is no universal job description that makes a man a good partner. Providing, protecting, listening, and taking initiative can all matter, but the…

At the end of a demanding day, one partner may want conversation while the other wants nobody to ask another question. From the outside, exhaustion can…

At twenty-four, Daniel was working in retail, presenting a weekly radio show, and taking a screenwriting class. Four months into a relationship, he…

At first, I let it pass. Robert’s family called me his best friend, and I assumed it was an affectionate description of our marriage. Then I asked them…