ETL Echo presents The Politician's Wife by pir8fancier.

Chapter 12: All Fall Down

Because my office was temporarily assuming some of his duties while we searched for a suitable replacement, we had to communicate. This was done solely by memo. Which his secretary signed. With a mutual understanding precise as the cut of a sharp knife, I never looked at him in meetings, or chance run-ins at the canteen, or the lift. He followed suit. We talked at each other, not to each other. I did notice he was losing weight. And that when he stepped in the lift, he often smelled of cigarette smoke.