Victor Klein woke up to the faint sound of birds chirping outside his modest suburban home. The sunlight streaming through the blinds landed directly on his face, but instead of waking him gently, it only irritated him. He groaned, rolling over in bed as the alarm clock on his nightstand buzzed insistently.
The mattress dipped on the other side as his wife, Patricia, got up, her movements brisk and efficient as always. She didn't spare him a glance as she tied her silk robe, a new acquisition from one of her many shopping sprees. Klein's eyes followed the flow of the fabric, irritation bubbling up. That robe alone had cost nearly as much as their monthly mortgage, and yet Patricia had worn it as if it were no more than a disposable napkin.
"Are you getting up, or are you going to sulk th
