3: The F

rsation with Dave still echoed in his mind. *"Just one thing."* It seemed so simple, yet he couldn't sh

had t

hould've finished two weeks ago. The task itself wasn't even difficult; it just required focus, something Max had been severely lacking. Every time

uggish, as though it hadn't been used in weeks. But as he worked through the first few paragraphs, something strange happened. The fog in hi

a small sense of control. For the first time in

attached the document to an email and sent it to his boss, Sarah, before he could second-guess hi

otion, it wasn't a raise, and it definitely didn't fix everything in his

-

, Max's phone buzzed

'd it

he typed his reply: *"I

st immediately: *"G

that far ahead. The small satisfaction of finishing the report had carried him

was

t him, more daunting than any deadline or project. Max knew he couldn't avoid it forever. His relationship wit

e: *"I need to talk to Laura. B

words carefully. *"You'll never feel ready. Just do it. You don't n

il he felt completely ready, the conversation would never happen. He

-

aura's name in his contacts. His heart pounded in his chest. Wh

f it di

a deep breath and hit the call button before he could secon

was soft, but there wa

? I know things have been rough lately, and I...

the line, and Max could hear Laura e

of them knew how to start. But Max had alread

ing out in a rush. "I've been in a bad place, and I've let that

Max's heart pound harder. When she finally spoke, he

ou've been somewhere else, and I've been trying to reach you,

g things they had held back for months. Laura wasn't ready to give up, but sh

t better, but he did promise to try-to take small ste

sn't a perfect conversation, but it was a start.

-

ext to Dave: *"Talked to Laura. It w

exactly what Max needed to h

to it, really. One small step at a time. It wasn't about fixing everything in one go.

nths, Max believed that