The pandemic's grip loosened, letting the world breathe again. Yet, within their home, the air grew heavy. Clara, once adrift in Miles's neediness, now retreated, seeking solace in the quiet corners of their unfinished haven. Books became her companions, their stories a temporary escape from the unsettling reality surrounding her.
 
Miles, sensing her withdrawal, donned the familiar mask of concern. He spoke of therapy sessions, his voice thick with remorse, blaming past traumas and hidden wounds for his behavior. "It's a process," he'd sigh, seeking her hand, his eyes searching for empathy. "But I'm working on it, for us."
 
Clara, ever the nurturer, offered support, hope flickering within her. Therapy, a beacon of change, could mend the cracks in their foundation, she believed. But as she listened to his recounting of sessions, a discordant note began to play. He spoke of compliments paid by the therapist, of validation received, leaving the true struggles, the introspection she expected, curiously absent.
 
A seed of doubt took root. Inconsistencies crept in. Why did only positive aspects of his sessions surface? Where were the challenges, the vulnerabilities one shared in therapy's safe space? Her questions, tentative at first, were met with defensiveness, the mask slipping ever so slightly, revealing a flicker of irritation beneath the practiced concern.
 
Unease bloomed into suspicion. Was his therapy a genuine journey towards healing, or a carefully crafted narrative to manipulate her sympathy? As she watched him lose himself in online games, neglecting household chores and their connection, the answer seemed chillingly clear. His "progress" was a mirage, his mental health struggles a convenient excuse for his selfish behaviors.
 
The weight of this realization settled on Clara's shoulders, heavy and suffocating. The "work" he claimed to be doing was all smoke and mirrors, a performance designed to keep her tethered to a reality that only served his needs. With each passing day, her withdrawal became a conscious choice, a necessary step towards understanding the truth lurking beneath the facade of a relationship slowly unravelling. The path ahead was uncertain, but she wouldn't be fooled any longer. The therapy sessions, a supposed beacon of hope, had unwittingly exposed the darkness, and Clara, her eyes finally open, was ready to face it, one cautious step at a time.