After the Fall: Redemption in His Arms

shook the silence, steady, fragile,

inked through the tall windows, its lights bleeding into the glass like paint strokes on a restless painting. It used to soothe her, that electric vibration of New York at nig

down just enough for her to catch her breath. He'd walk through the door, loosen his tie, press a kiss to her cheek,

ot to

is voice rough, fatigued, like it ha

urn around.

r call r

er warm. His hand found her waist out of habit, not tenderness, and his

basil and wine

deadlines and exhaustion," she said, eye

a second, it almost felt like the past hadn't unraveled. Like the

ely, like a secret slippi

tenants of a shared space, not partne

nodded in approval.

odded

he asked, pushing her

r interfaces, pitch decks. His eyes lit up in all

Something in her chest pulled tight. She tried to remember the la

id, her voice low, almost hesitant, li

ention slide

account. A national cam

. "That's amazing. Sorry, just need

rse yo

cross the screen. Watched him

ords like they were gospel. Now she

fork down ge

ced up.

e last time

. "Uh... l

head. "No. T

rstand," he said, his voice uncertain

eally looked at me. The last time your

ween them, soft, but

he silence stretched wide and h

his even co

e crossed the room, quiet and deliberate, and reached for the manila envelope on the console. She

voice shifted

eyes clear. "These

"What the hell are

eady s

wait. What

ache, steady, quiet, and blooming with heartbreak. "Tired of carrying this marriage alo

stepping toward her, pan

there was nothing there.

mehow rewind time. "Okay, alright, you're angry, I get it. Work's bee

in the storm. "I begged you, Ethan." Not with words, but wit

lled myself building this life for us.

red. "I had ever

ched. V

eally doi

the envelope on the table between

des, staring at it, like touching it

this unhappy," he said

m, eyes shining but steady. "I got tired of being unh

the edge of panic, thick with desperation. "I'll step b

stood tall. "Why did it take

came. He looked down at the en

oe

y. "I don't need promise

till l

ve without presence? That's j

knocked out of him, like her wo

I fell in love with to show up," s

e bedroom, each step carrying t

topped. "Don't come a

ayed

edge of the bed, shoulders heavy, heart louder than the room around her. Her eyes landed on a framed photo from Paris, h

mbered t

misse

version of him who

't come home in a

unlight spilled over the

rn from too much crying and finally telling the truth.

red, got dressed, and made her coffee. The enve

dn't m

dn't h

hallway, her phone vibrated

Ethan

ed. Her thu

she op

I wasn't there. But I'm n