2025-05-25 06:20:38
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Turbulent.
The door swung shut behind Nora with a gentle jingle, lost under the clatter of cups, the roar of espresso machines, and the building hum of a crowd that had no idea how close to shattering she was. She lingered, surrounded by the aroma of coffee brewing and pastries, grounding herself in the warm, hectic chaos of the café."Nora! This evening we're serving alcohol, fewer teas and coffees," her boss shouted to her."Since when?" Nora shot back."You can look at the sign outside," her boss snapped back.Nora was taken aback.Her shift had only just begun, and already she could feel the tension behind her eyes.Customers waited in a zigzag line almost to the door, thumping their phones or scowling in over-the-top frustration. Others clustered beside the counter, shouting into frazzled employees as if they were on oxygen and at risk of suffocation.Nora smoothed her apron, tucking the necklace she'd found a while earlier discreetly into her pocket. Her mind was still going over the memor
Is a chill guy.
The city lights smudged against the bus's streaked windows as it jolted along the nearly vacant road. Nora sat in one of the middle rows, her face tense and pale, her fists bunched into the strap of her backpack. Her head was a jumble of everything—Eric's motionless figure laid out in that hospital bed, Sandra's worried eyes looming over him, the weight of her choices. and now this shift.The air on the bus was thick, stagnant, and filled with the low hum of the engine. She sighed and wiped a bead of sweat from her temple. The air conditioning barely worked, and the other individuals around her appeared just as exhausted as she felt.She leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to will her mind empty.And then it happened.The driver changed the station, and the bus speakers crackled gently before releasing a familiar tune into the air. A gentle piano chord. Then gentle strings. Nora's eyes snapped open. No. Not this song.It was Lisa's favorite song. The same
Shifts and Shadows.
The cold fluorescent lights that flooded the hospital corridor cast a pale light over the sterile walls. It was deep into the night, but the tension between Nora and Sandra made the time seem to grind to a complete standstill. The only noise that cut through the sterile silence was the gentle beeping of Eric's monitor from the ICU room resting just beyond the glass.Sandra sat next to the vending machine, her legs crossed over each other, her arms wrapped tightly around her chest. Nora paced, her pale face illuminated by the screen light of her phone revealing worry built over the hours.Ping.Nora paused. Her phone vibrated once more, this time harder. She glanced at the screen, and her stomach dropped.Boss [1:12 AM]: "Nora, your on-going inconsistency on your night shifts is affecting operations. If you are unable to commit, please let us know. We may have to reassess your position."Her fingers trembled slightly as she read the message for the umpteenth time. A lump formed in her
Fading Lights.
The door creaked open on a violent swing, wood splintering where the lock had been. Nora stumbled in, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes swept the darkened room before they found him—Eric—slumped against the floor at the foot of his bed, the soft whir of the ceiling fan the only sound in the taut silence.Her scream tore through the air."Eric!" she cried, rushing to his side.His eyes were half-closed, unfocused, his breathing shallow and slow. His shirt was wrinkled, his tie loose around his neck, as if he'd tried to take it off halfway but never bothered. There was a miniature bottle next to him, and two half-full whiskey glasses. Nora's eyes desperately scoured the desk—papers, Oliver's letter, the torn wedding invitation… and two bottles of pills."No, no, no, please no," she whispered, beside him on her knees, trying to quiet her trembling hands as she placed her ear on his chest. A heartbeat. Slow… but there.He was alive."Eric, can you hear me? Eric, please, look at
Chais of Silence.
The night air was charged with an unnormal stillness, one felt only after there had been too much laughter to bounce off a room. Inside the Rodriguez mansion, the walls pulsed with golden light, the scents of champagne and foreign candles hanging in the air late into the night after the guests had left. Lisa stood barefoot in front of the large window, wrapped in a white satin robe that reflected in the moonlight. The city lights painted her figure in soft gold as she stared out silently into the night.Behind her, the bathroom door creaked open. Steam curled into the room as Oliver stepped out, water still dripping from his toned frame. He had a towel around his waist and a smirk hanging off his lips.“You’re quiet,” he said, walking up behind her. “That’s rare.”Lisa didn’t flinch. “Just thinking…”"About what?" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.She turned her head slightly, not pushing but not leaning in at all. "If this is real," she said, her voice
The Fifth floor.
Evening was still on the city, wrapped in an odd glow of street lamps and the fadings pink of sun. The Rodriguez compound was lost behind them, along with its noise, laughter, and subtle cruelty. Eric and Nora walked in silence together, not because they had nothing to say, but because the weight of what had happened seemed larger and more important than words.They walked to Eric's apartment complex, in the heart of a fatigued neighborhood. The walls were tired, and the tiles alongside the entrance bore footprints of countless renters who had entered and exited the aged complex. There were some kids playing soccer across the road, their cries a muffled accompaniment to the commotion in Eric's heart."This is it," Eric said almost with a sigh, halting at the gate.Nora nodded. "You okay?"He smiled unwillingly. "Yeah. Just need to sleep it off.""I'll walk you in," she offered without a second thought.Eric looked at her. "You don't have to.""I want to.".He gave up, and they pushed
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