Gerald carefully maneuvered his car into a parking spot outside Aubrey's apartment building. The hum of the engine died down as he switched it off, leaving a heavy silence between them. He glanced at Aubrey, noticing the way her shoulders had slumped as they neared her place. There was a tiredness in her posture that tugged at his heart.
"We're here," Gerald said softly, breaking the silence.
Aubrey nodded, her movements slow as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Yeah," she murmured, almost to herself, before reaching for the door handle. Gerald quickly stepped out of the car and hurried around to her side, opening the door for her.
"Thanks," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she stepped out. Gerald offered her a small, reassuring smile, trying to read the emotions playing across her face, but she kept her gaze low, focused on the ground.