Situations had deteriorated between Phoebe and Suhbe such that the couple woke up today and no one said a word to each other. They both went about preparing to leave for work without minding if the other existed or not. They've been having communication issues for quite a while. Their parents have even had to step in to assist but there has been no améliorations. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmety5pSb2Xiij74MhL2rkGcNmkXwxZCTuv9q5LoVSaCzU/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241003_160700_0000.jpg _{Modified on Canva by me} This all started about 3 months ago when Phoebe returned home from work one evening and noticed that her husband was already home and was on a call📱in their beautiful garden. They had done so well for themselves during the past few years of their marriage. The beautiful modern duplex with a minimalist boho interior decor they lived in was their own. They opted for a lush shade garden design with two center ponds, each lined with peace lilies. They both have a great sense of style. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVr7pcYCwBwYTu5Aqt5m6gcLJRPmZqKcrri9LSgmtw8mb/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241003_152446_0000.jpg _{Modified on Canva by me} Phoebe stood there and noticed the afiliative smile 😊 on his face while he was pacing around the delicate garden, fondling with the leaves while he spoke softly on the phone. She got into the house without saying anything and without him even noticing that she was around. When he was done and got in, he welcomed her and joint her in making dinner🍛. While they prepared dinner and chatted, Phoebe was expecting him to mention the call but he didn't. She kept waiting impatiently while they ate and even when they retired for the night to no avail. This is when she concluded that Suhbe was having an affair🤔. She carried this in her heart for months and never spoke about it, neither did her husband ever mention anything about the call. Such unaccountable calls repeated themselve as time went by and she couldn't take it anymore. So Phoebe decided to meet her lawyer to file for a divorce. The divorce procedure had surprisingly taken just about a week and she was ready to serve the papers to Suhbe this evening. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR7MHXxirSfzzfWP19peKxZ3tPW71p98FEuj3bNJZN7gN/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241003_154108_0000.jpg _{Modified on Canva by me} So, Phoebe returned home this evening with her lawyer, prepared to serve the divorce papers to her husband. On approaching the compound, she noticed there was no electricity, everywhere was dark. She knew her husband was probably still out with her mistress. She searched into her hand bag furiously for the house key 🔑 and opened the door frantically. She reached for the switch and before she could turn on the lights, she immediately heard loud shouts from all angles of the living room, 🗣 SURPRISE!!! It was her birthday and she had forgotten. Suhbe had planned this day for the past 3 months and had invited all the people Phoebe cared for to join him celebrate his lovely and beautiful wife. That's the reason why he always made those unaccountable calls. In that instant, she felt shocked embarrassed, ashamed and stupid all at once. Her suspicions about her husband had created a _GAP_ between them, in their communication. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWmxxkP76crJzqFxiByAoombwWmuHMHCmLibngStZKa3X/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241003_160054_0000.jpg _{Modified on Canva by me} A gap is that space or opportunity which when allowed, makes evident blurred lines in a relationship. This could further enhance situations of doubt and distrust. Since a gap signifies space, therefore it can allow for intrusion. Intrusions can be in the form of thoughts, third parties etc,. Just like what happened between Phoebe and Suhbe, from the moment there was no clarity in Suhbe's actions, communication had an issue and a gap was created. From the moment months ago when Phoebe or Suhbe were supposed to say something about what was happening and the time something was actually said or when the acts were revealed, everything in-between all of that was a created gap. Anything can happen when there is a gap; hatred happens in the gap, people get divorced in the gap, all the side chicks and guys all happen in the gap, people get information misconstrued in the gap. I personally think that the number one responsibility of every relationship or every couple is to close their gap, and this cannot be achieved except through effective intentional communication and dialogue. Remember , > Nature abhors a vacuum. **_Aristotle_** --- Dear Steemians, thank you for reading through and I hope it made sense to you. I would also appreciate your views at the comment section. Thank you🙏. --- While anticipating the 3rd sequel of your favorite series, **_THE POISONOUS QUEST_**, keep steeming. If you haven't read yet, here is [Sequel-1](https://steemit.com/hive-195150/@tignoga/poisonous-quest-or-sequel-1) and [Sequel-2](https://steemit.com/hive-195150/@tignoga/poisonous-quest-or-sequel-2)