It was almost noon when he arrived home, his mind still reeling from the events of the past day. He was surprised to see Jessica already home, sitting at their small dining table and picking at a salad.“Jess, what are you doing here? I thought you were at your dad’s office today,” Conor said, trying to keep his tone light despite the tension he felt.Jessica looked up, her expression unreadable. “I could ask you the same thing! Isn’t today one of your shifts at Grizlhut? And where were you last night? I never heard you come in.”Conor felt his face flush as he tried to decide how to explain. The events of the previous night were still fresh in his mind, but he knew how bad it would sound. “Well… last night, I ran into some legal trouble… I was framed while on a pizza run.”Jessica’s eyes widened in shock. “What!? What the hell, Conor?”“I swear, I’m innocent! My lawyer can explain everything. But Pops wouldn’t listen—he just knows the cops questioned me, so he fired me on the spot. Di

Conor arrived home with a sense of determination. He was exhausted from the day’s events, but tonight, he wanted to do something special.It had been far too long since he and Jessica had shared a peaceful evening together, and he hoped tonight could be a step toward mending the distance that had grown between them.He set about preparing dinner, starting with a shrimp bisque bourbon soup. The rich aroma of simmering shrimp, butter, and bourbon filled the small kitchen as he carefully stirred the pot.He moved on to the main course, a shrimp scampi with a garlic butter sauce. The smell of roasting garlic mingled with the scent of fresh herbs, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.As the food cooked, Conor laid out a simple but elegant dining set on their small table. He placed two candles, which the store manager had provided, in the center and lit them, watching as the soft glow flickered across the room.Everything was ready. All that remained was for Jessica to come home.He glan

As Conor made his way up the stairs and along the walkway to his apartment, he noticed Yuri waiting outside. At fifteen, Yuri was still a bit short for his age, but he was quickly maturing, both in height and in his passion for game development.Conor had come to think of Yuri as the little brother he never had, and seeing the excitement on the boy’s face brought a smile to his own.“Conor! You’re home!” Yuri exclaimed, practically bouncing on his toes.“What’s up, Yuri? Everything okay?” Conor asked, curious about the source of Yuri’s enthusiasm.“You’re not going to believe this!” Yuri’s words tumbled out in a rush. “Mr. Nuri managed to get me a spot at the Bayan Gaming Convention this weekend! He says Mom can take me, and I’ll be able to present the game! This is HUGE!!! All the top companies will be there, showing off their new games and systems! If I can get one of them to like ‘Song of Dragons,’ we could go multiplatform and, and…”“WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, slow down, Yuri!” Conor chuck

Three o’clock rolled around, and Conor clocked out from Jackson’s Furniture, eager to start his second job of the day.As he made his way to Mr. Arroz’s Spice Emporium, the pungent aroma of exotic spices filled the air, instantly reminding him of the days he had spent recently working next door with Cara.He briefly wondered if she had a shift this afternoon, but those thoughts were quickly interrupted by a familiar voice.“Ah, Conor, my boy! Come, come!” Mr. Arroz called out with his characteristic enthusiasm, his thick Pruarian accent carrying easily over the bustling street. The jovial older man had always been kind to Conor and seemed particularly thrilled to see him today.“Conor, that combination you suggested is selling like nothing I have ever had in my shop! You are truly Celia blessed! And that Mr. Nuri you introduced me to—already, he is having orders placed for a shop near his headquarters!”Conor smiled warmly at the darker-skinned Mr. Arroz, feeling a sense of pride in th

The next morning, Conor awoke to a frigid chill in the air. Winter had finally arrived, and the cold seemed to seep into his bones. He wrapped himself tightly in his blanket, grateful that Jessica hadn’t taken it away this time. From the kitchen, he heard the familiar clatter of dishes as Jessica prepared breakfast.“Hurry up, Conor. Don’t be late for Jackson’s! Remember, rent is due Friday!” Jessica’s voice carried a sense of urgency that sent a pang of guilt through him.Conor rolled out of bed, the cold air biting at his skin as he hurried to shower and dress. By the time he made it to the kitchen, Jessica had already left for work. He sighed, quickly scrambling an egg and eating it straight from the pan before jogging to work.When Conor arrived at Jackson Furniture, he was met with a stern-faced Mr. Matthews waiting for him at the entrance.“Care to explain why I have an irate client threatening to sue us after having an accident shortly after leaving our loading dock?” Mr. Matthe