Pretending For One Last Time

The morning sun spills through the car windows as Marilena drives to work, her thoughts swirling like a storm. She drums her fingers on the steering wheel, her mind replaying the weight of the past few days. The charity event looms large in her thoughts, though she tries to push it aside.

As she navigates the bustling streets, her phone buzzes in the cupholder. As she stops at a red light, her phone buzzes in the passenger seat. Glancing at the screen, she sees Christian's name flashing. With a sigh, she picks up the call and presses it to her ear.

"Hey, Christian. Good morning," she says, her voice laced with exhaustion.

"Morning, Marilena," Christian replies, his tone unusually upbeat. "How are you holding up?"

"Fine, I guess," she responds, glancing briefly at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her eyes betray the sleepless night she had. "Just heading to work. What about you?"