This is a chilling story that, I think, fits the challenge perfectly. It’s both absurd and eerily plausible. Very well written!

You never assosciate domestic abuse with women. I don;t know why, we’re all capable.
This is really well-written, the protagonist not loving his wife is the complete opposite to some cases of domestic.

Yikes! Daniel is certainly a shut-in, and I found the role reversal interesting. Nice work and thanks for playing!

One thing left me confused. It’s her house, so presumably she lives there. So why are the mail and newspapers piling up? He doesn’t go out, but why doesn’t she bring them in? Leaving them out is just an invitation for questions from the neighbours. The 3rd paragraph as much as suggests that there are neighbours.

That is a good point. She is actually a movie star (although you can substitute any job that has to be on the road for weeks out of the year), and not right in the head. She expects Daniel to take care of things (in secret) and will probably beat him for not doing it. Maybe that’s his cry for help.

Your response reminded me immediately of the Parable of the Talents from Life of Brian:

BRIAN: Ohh. Look. There was this man, and he had two servants.
ARTHUR: What were they called?
BRIAN: What?
ARTHUR: What were their names?
BRIAN: I don’t know. And he gave them some talents.
EDDIE: You don’t know?!
BRIAN: Well, it doesn’t matter!
ARTHUR: He doesn’t know what they were called!
BRIAN: Oh, they were called ‘Simon’ and ‘Adrian’. Now—
ARTHUR: Oh! You said you didn’t know!
BRIAN: It really doesn’t matter. The point is there were these two servants—
ARTHUR: He’s making it up as he goes along.
BRIAN: No, I’m not! …And he gave them some ta— Wait a minute. Were there three?

;-)

I agree with the above sentiments, well written, chilling, and it’s foreboding about the newspapers, because you clearly state that its his job to care for the house and he hasn’t done it. :) He’s in TROUBLE!

O.O oh my god. that is so crazy!

This is so sad… especially because they’re married, so they probably loved each other at one point, and now everything is just so broken and horrible, certainly unlike anything he would have thought marriage would be like. Heartbreaking =[ but great writing.