THE COMPANY'S DECISION “Sir, you can’t stay on this side of the line.” Manuel didn’t answer the nurse. He didn’t move either. He just stood with his arms folded across his chest. The glass wall separating him from Dave’s bed reflected his face back at him, older than it should have looked. The machines were fixed on his body to aid him as he laid still. Manuel rested his palm against the glass, not touching his father, not even crossing that last inch. He just kept looking at him as though that would wake him. “His vitals are getting weaker,” the doctor said from behind him. “The progression is… faster than we anticipated.” Manuel nodded, placing his hand back in his pocket. Faster than expected. Everyone kept saying that. “How long?” he asked. The doctor hesitated for a while before answering. “We’re not measuring in months anymore.” Manuel let out a slow breath through his nose. He didn’t look away from Dave. “What ever happens..” Manuel said, voice steady, “don’t sugarco

THE RESIGNATION She leaned against the wall beside him. “I saw three names….”He looked at her. “Only three?”She looked at him. “Three that moved quietly. The loud ones are just noise.”That earned her a look, but not for too long.“I’m surrounded,” Manuel said softly. “And somehow still alone.”Laura didn’t answer right away. Then, quietly, “Not completely.”He looked at her again, longer this time, but didn't see anything. “You should rest a bit boss, we can continue this tomorrow…” Laura said, looking straight at him. Manuel nodded and then grabbed his jacket, his tie and then walked out of the door. Laura heaved. He knew how heavy Manuel's heart was towards everything that has been ongoing. She felt uneasy, but didn't know how to resolve it. She followed him immediately. They drove home, but Manuel didn't speak to anyone. He walked straight to his room and locked the door, not wanting to see anyone.*****The next day, Manuel returned to the company, but everything felt awfu

SHE'S MINE!! Christopher leaned slightly toward the hallway corner, unseen. Laura continued, her tone steady. “You’re allowed to hurt. Even leaders are.”Manuel exhaled. “If they see it….”“They won’t,” she said. “Not like this.”Christopher’s fingers curled slowly against the wall. He could picture it too clearly. Manuel breaking and Laura holding the pieces.Something in him twisted. He should step in and announce himself, but he didn't.And as Laura’s voice continued to soothe the Mannuel, Christopher's chest tightened even more.He decided to let them be for now, he'd come back later. He didn’t leave loudly. He didn’t slam the door or announce himself. He slipped away the way people do when they don’t want to admit they’re retreating.The hallway light caught him as he moved towa

THE STABILITY MEASURE Manuel sat alone in his office, jacket off, sleeves rolled, hands braced on the desk, thinking about the happenings in the company.He feared losing control. Feared losing Laura herself. He leaned back, eyes closing briefly.“I didn’t mean to fall,” he admitted to the empty room.Meanwhile, Laura stood in the parking structure, phone in hand, staring at nothing.She had survived worse. Loss, betrayal, danger. So why did this feel like standing on a fault line?Because she hadn’t planned it. Because she hadn’t guarded against it. Manuel hadn’t needed her strength, he’d needed her presence.And that changed things.Suddenly, her phone buzzed. A message from Manuel.I won’t push. But I won’t pretend either. It read.She stared at it, thumb going over it.What does he mean?! She thought, her thoughts going wild.Meanwhile, Manuel remained in the office long after most lights went out. He reviewed reports without reading them, and stared at charts.All he could think

SECRET SOURCES Manuel exhaled, staring at the whole place as though he was waiting for something before proceeding. After a while, he spread his arms and closed his eyes. Just then, he heard a sound from the door, it sounded as though someone came knocking, but when he opened his eyes and listened very well, he didn't hear a thing anymore. “The least I expect is someone disrupting my flow.” he said and moved quickly to the door, as though he was being chased.He opened the door and saw how bare the corridor was, he signed and came out of the room properly, his arms on his waist.He walked down a bit and then he saw the old maid, Elena.“Sir, is everything alright?” She asked, studying his expression. She knew him better than the other maids and she could tell when something was wrong or not. Manuel looked around and drew closer, “what if you help watch over my room and don't allow anyone in?” She looked at him like he was rapping and nodded, staring straight at his eyes. Manuel s