What changed?

After a long meeting, Dylan finally had some time to relax. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes shut tightly against the ache in his head. The relentless exhaustion from a sleepless night bore down on him. His body screamed for rest, but the thought of going home felt unbearable.

What was the point?

Ava didn't want him there. Whenever he was alone, his past mistakes weighed down on him, echoing in his mind like an unending lament. Only if he had valued her back then, he would have been living happily.

He sighed deeply, running a hand over his face. "Might as well finish the work here." Forcing himself upright, he flipped open his laptop.

Before he could focus, his phone buzzed on the desk, catching his attention. His heart leaped at the sight of Ava's name on the screen. A flicker of hope and excitement danced in his tired eyes. He grabbed the phone and answered, pausing just long enough to steady himself.