UNLIKE HIM

Roman drove down the winding road with a sense of urgency, his brow furrowed with thick lines of worry etched deep into his face.

Confusion swirled in his mind like a tempest; he could not fathom the reasons behind being kept away from Carol. Why was he barred from seeing her?

His heart pounded against his ribcage as he maneuvered through the highway, tires screeching against the asphalt, sending up plumes of dust that danced in the air behind him.

Upon arriving at Gavin's home, he turned off the ignition with a swift twist of the key, the silence inside the car suddenly deafening.

He took a moment to collect himself, adjusting his tie as if it could somehow steady the racing of his heart, before stepping out and striding purposefully toward the front door to ring the bell.

Inside, Doris was preparing for the evening, her movements steady yet anxious, while Gavin thumbed through his thoughts at her side, his expression clouding with concern.