Omar woke up the next morning, blinking against the warm light that filtered through the curtains. As his eyes adjusted to the quiet of the room, he realized Aisha’s side of the bed was empty. A glance at the clock confirmed it was still early. She must have gone downstairs already.

He lay there for a moment, his mind drifting back to the events of the previous day. It wasn’t jealousy, he realized. No, it was fear. Fear of losing her, or worse, fear of someone else claiming a space in her life. He shook his head, trying to shake off the thoughts. Aisha was his wife, and he knew he had nothing to worry about. But the unfamiliar feeling of insecurity gnawed at him.