Elias couldn't shake the sense of unease that seemed to be growing inside him, it was hard to focus. His mind was constantly on Grady, on the distance between them that seemed to widen with each passing hour.It wasn’t that Grady was being outright distant, or cold, but there was something in his manner, something in the way he carried himself that spoke of quiet tension. He was still there—still working, still contributing—but he was different. Elias could see it in the way he avoided eye contact, in the way he would often slip into silence when the others were talking. He was holding back in ways that Elias couldn’t ignore.It wasn’t just the long, distracted stares that Grady often cast out of windows or over plans, nor was it just the subtle way he’d keep conversations short, preferring to retreat into the background rather than take charge. It was the way he was always looking over his shoulder, as though waiting for something—or someone—to appear. Elias couldn’t place it, but it

The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft lines across the room. Elias sat at his desk, the clutter of blueprints and city plans spread out before him, but his mind kept drifting. He couldn’t shake the feeling of stagnation that had crept in over the past few days. Despite the progress in the warehouse, despite the work that was being done, Elias knew something was still missing. He hadn’t quite figured out what it was, but the absence of clarity gnawed at him.He leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face, exhaustion settling into his bones. The warehouse was humming with activity—things were moving forward, people were working. But for Elias, it felt like he was standing still, unable to fully engage.The door to his office creaked open, and Lana stepped in, looking uncharacteristically serious. Her usual confident, collected self seemed tempered by something else—an understanding of what was brewing under the surface.“You good?” she asked, her voice s

Elias stood frozen, unsure of how to move forward now that Mara had stepped inside. She hadn’t changed, at least not in ways that were immediately obvious, still that quiet, composed strength. But Elias could feel the weight of the years between them, the silence that stretched out in the spaces where words had failed them in the past.Mara stood still in the doorway, her eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, it felt like time hadn’t passed. He could almost hear the echoes of their old life, the way she’d look at him when they disagreed, the way her voice would soften when she’d had enough. It had been years since he’d felt that pull, that weight of history anchoring him in place.“Elias,” she said again, this time with a hint of urgency in her voice. “I know this is unexpected, but I needed to see you. To talk.”Her words hung in the air, but Elias didn’t know where to begin. He had been steeling himself for this moment, but now that it was here, he felt like he was caught between

It was just past noon when Elias finally stepped outside for a breath of air. The sky was clouded over, but the humidity in the air was a stark reminder that the city would soon be engulfed by summer. Elias walked down the street, his thoughts wandering to the conversation with Mara. He hadn’t expected to hear from her again so soon, but he had to admit, there was a part of him that was curious about what she really wanted. He was still angry, still hurt by her sudden departure all those years ago, but the old ache was different now—muted, almost distant.It was in those moments of quiet reflection that Elias realized how much he had changed. The city, the work, Grady—all of it had shifted the way he viewed his life. The foundations had been rebuilt, and the spaces in between, the ones left by past mistakes and regrets, were finally beginning to fill in.As he walked, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Elias pulled it out and saw a message from Grady: *Are you free? Can we talk?*Elias f

The city outside seemed to hum with a quiet energy, the early morning light casting long shadows over the streets. Elias stood by the window in his office, the weight of the last few days still pressing on his shoulders, but something had shifted. The constant churn of uncertainty, of too many things left unresolved, had slowed, even if only a little.Today felt different. Not better necessarily, but different. The air was charged with a sense of possibility. Elias wasn’t sure if he could name it yet, but it was there, tugging at him gently.He ran a hand through his hair, glancing at the clock. It was just after 8:00 AM. A busy day ahead, but it would be a different kind of busy. More meetings, more updates, but there was a clarity in the way he was moving today. Grady had been quiet since their last conversation—giving Elias the space he needed, but there was an unspoken understanding between them now. Grady wasn’t going anywhere, and Elias wasn’t as afraid of the distance between t