I was the center of his universe

Sliding into the driver's seat, I paused for a moment, gripping the steering wheel as I stared out at the fading daylight. The city was alive with the hustle and bustle of the evening rush, people hurrying home or to their evening plans.

I could hear the distant honking of car horns, the hum of engines, and the occasional chatter of pedestrians passing by. But all of that seemed distant, like I was in a bubble, separated from the rest of the world.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "It's all fine," I whispered to myself, as if saying it out loud would somehow make it true.

I had to believe that everything was okay. Maybe Karim was just stressed from work. His job was demanding, and it wasn't uncommon for him to become distant when things got tough.