Two Heartbeats in Our Bed

Summary

My wife was a surgeon with a relentless, clinical germaphobia.

She used to say that after spending her days knee-deep in bile, bacteria, and open wounds, home had to be an aseptic sanctuary. The absolute purity of a clean room.

Because of this, my return home always began with a ritual: straight to the sink, scrubbing up to the elbows. If I sat on the sofa, she would trail behind me with a bottle of disinfectant, misting the cushions in quiet, methodical passes.

Above all, she guarded our bed.