The first year of marriage unfolded much like Cole had envisioned for two individuals with demanding careers — it was mostly good, yet marked by the unique logistical challenges of their overlapping professional schedules. Both of them were discovering the distinction between the relationship they had forged amidst crisis and the one they now needed to cultivate under the gentle, yet persistent, pressures of everyday life.
He found it quite surprising how different the two types of challenges truly were. The compliance review, the secrecy, and even the underlying fear of losing everything had united them against a common adversary, something external they could confront together. This new phase felt quieter and more elusive, characterized by the subtle erosion that arose from two weary in
