Chapter 5: Love Never Leaves.

Adex's apartment had candles lit all over the living room as he set the table with wine glasses. He was excited as he moved around, trying to arrange the table. He danced around while listening to soft music and imagined Lydia was there with him. He held his hand as if grasping her waist, turning as if they were dancing together through his imagination. He made the space feel warm and alive.

Adex was swept away by the melody; he closed his eyes, completely lost in the moment. He whispered as if Lydia were right in front of him. "You look stunning tonight," he murmured, smiling to himself.

His movements were light and carefree as he twirled around the room. The soft shadows caused by the flickering candlelight intensified the illusion of Lydia's presence in his mind, and he could almost hear her voice calling out loud.

As he finally slowed down, he took a deep breath and glanced at the table. There were two plates, two glasses, and the meal he had prepared. He sighed, and his anticipation mixed with a hint of desire. 'Would tonight be the best night they've ever had together?' Or 'would she see something beyond a mere relationship?' He longed for her arrival as he rechecked the table, straightened his shirt, and proceeded to the door. "Lydia would arrive soon."

He stood in front of the door, lightly drumming his fingers in a rhythmic motion against the soft music playing in the background, creating a sensation of anticipation. He glanced at his watch every few seconds, intently observing the hands move slowly and steadily across the dial. He felt his heart beating with more passion every second, and he held his breath for even the slightest sound that came from the other side.

When a car passed by with its bright headlights lighting up the window, he would dash over and glance quickly through the curtains, looking forward to seeing her. Every time he gazed out of the window, he felt disappointed. For a brief moment, he held onto the fabric of the curtains, feeling unhappy, before having to release it and return to his regular spot by the door, where he stood in silent anticipation.

He brushed a finger through his hair and shifted his body restlessly. "She ought to have been here by now," was the only thought going through his mind. Was he expecting too much? He pushed the idea from his mind and took a deep breath. The candles flickered behind him, filling the room with a warm glow, but all he could think about was the moment she would finally walk through that door.

He rechecked his watch and moved away from the door, pacing with his fingers drumming against the table. Lydia should be close to home by now. Unable to wait longer, he took out his phone and quickly dialed her number.

Lydia's phone rang from the other end. She had been driving home through the night, and he was excited to hear her voice when she answered.

"Hi, baby," Lydia's voice came through a gentle and cheerful tone

A smile spread across his face as he reached for the wine bottle. "Where are you?" he asked, pouring the wine carefully.

"I'll be home in about twenty minutes," she said, her voice slightly muffled as if she were adjusting her phone.

Adex chuckled, leaning against the door. "I miss you."

"I know," she said with a soft laugh. "I'm close by."

He sighed happily, his voice warm and full of affection. "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied softly.

Lydia was about to hang up when the phone slipped from her hand. She bent down to retrieve it. For just a moment, her eyes left the road.

Then— a thunderous crash shattered the night.

The impact was immediate and violent. The sound of metal crumpling reverberated through the night. It was so loud that it traveled through the still-active phone line.

The phone lay beside her. The call was still ongoing, but Lydia could not reach it to answer.

On the other end, Adex stiffened. Hearing the terrifying crash on the phone, his smile disappeared, and his heart started pounding simultaneously. He paused to comprehend what had gone wrong. He looked at the phone screen as if he were looking at Lydia. Then, he returned the phone to his ear.

"Lydia!" he shouted out loud, his voice tinged with worry—silence answered him.

"Lydia!" he shouted again, this time louder—the call ended.

Adex held the phone with an unsteady hand. He redialed her number, but the lines couldn't connect. He glanced at his phone, feeling anxious as he thought otherwise.

For a moment, he experienced a surge of anxiety. Had something tragic happened? Had there been an accident? Was someone hurt? Even worse—was it deadly? As he contemplated these scary thoughts, his stomach churned.

Then, just as quickly, his mind went to something inappropriate—a selfish thought briefly went through his consciousness. He looked worried about how it would affect him, his plans, his convenience, or how he would manage the situation if she didn't show up for the evening.

He didn't understand why this happened, but for a brief moment, he thought about it. Maybe it was the tension, the shock, or how his brain reacted under stress.

He shook his head and pulled himself back to reality. "No, don't overthink it," he whispered. He took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts away. There must be a reasonable explanation. He just needed to wait and find out.

He paused and thought for a while. His forehead creased in confusion as he tried to make sense of Lydia's sudden noise. He wanted to call her again, but the call did not connect, causing his hands to shake slightly.

He took a deep breath, shook his head, and tried to set his worry aside, telling himself it was not a big deal before concluding in his mind.

"Maybe her phone battery had died," or "Could she be in an area without a signal?" These were the thoughts going through his mind. He didn't wish to think the worst; she had told him she would be home soon. He sighed, placed the phone down, and continued to arrange the table, reassuring himself that there was nothing to worry about.