A day's end

Ethan glanced at the clock on his computer screen. It was nearing 4 PM, and he had already asked his supervisor if he could leave early today. His request was granted, given the circumstances. His mother had been in the hospital for a long time, and visiting hours were strict.

He quickly gathered his things, shoving papers and his laptop into his bag. As he headed for the door, his coworker Sarah called out, "Heading out early today, Ethan?"

He nodded, managing a small smile. "Yeah, got to see my mom. She's still in the hospital."

Sarah's face softened with sympathy. "Hope she gets better soon. Take care."

"Thanks, Sarah," Ethan replied, waving as he hurried out the door.

The bus ride to the hospital was a blur of thoughts and emotions. Ethan's mind kept drifting back to the meeting with Lucien Belmont scheduled for tomorrow. The pressure was immense, and the stakes were high. He couldn't afford to mess this up, not with his mom's medical bills piling up and his sister Anna's school fees to worry about.

When he finally arrived at the hospital, he quickly made his way to his mother's room. He pushed open the door to find her sitting up in bed, looking much better than the last time he saw her.

"Hey, Mom," he greeted, his voice softening with relief.

"Ethan, sweetheart," she smiled, holding out her hand. "It's good to see you."

He sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better," she replied, squeezing his hand. "The doctors say I might be able to go home soon. How was work?"

'Going home soon due to bills i haven't been able to pay'.Ethan thought with a grimace.

Ethan forced a smile. "It was fine. Just the usual stuff."

His mother saw through his facade. "You worry too much, Ethan. Everything will be okay."

"I know, Mom," he said, though he wasn't sure he believed it. They chatted for a while longer, catching up on the little things.

As the visit drew to a close, Ethan kissed his mother on the forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

"Take care, honey," she said, her voice filled with motherly concern. "And try to get some rest. You look tired."

"I will," Ethan promised, though he knew it was unlikely.

Leaving the hospital, he felt a gnawing emptiness in his stomach. He hadn't eaten much today, too preoccupied with work and his worries. He decided to stop by a small diner he used to visit often.

The diner was cozy and familiar, a place where he felt comfortable. He slid into a booth and ordered a burger and fries. As he waited for his food, his mind wandered back to the meeting with Lucien Belmont. The man was intimidating, to say the least. Ethan had heard stories about him, about his ruthless business practices and his almost legendary control over his empire.

The waitress brought his food, snapping him out of his thoughts. He thanked her and took a bite of his burger, trying to focus on something other than his anxieties.

As he ate, his phone buzzed with a text message. It was from his sister, Anna.

"Hey, Ethan. Just checking in. How's Mom?"

Ethan quickly typed back, "She's doing better. Doctors say she might come home soon."

"That's great! How are you holding up?" came Anna's reply.

Ethan sighed, looking around the diner. "Managing. Just a lot on my plate right now."

"Don't overwork yourself. You need to take care of you too," Anna texted back.

Ethan smiled at his sister's concern. "I know, Anna. Thanks."

He finished his meal in relative silence, occasionally glancing at his phone. His thoughts kept drifting back to the meeting with Lucien. What if he couldn't come up with a solution? What if Lucien wasn't satisfied with his proposal? The what-ifs were endless, and each one weighed heavily on him.

As he paid for his meal and stepped out into the cool evening air, he decided to take a walk to clear his mind. The city was bustling, but he found solace in the anonymity of the crowd.

He strolled through a nearby park, watching as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the skyline. The walk did little to ease his anxiety, but it gave him time to think, to prepare mentally for the confrontation he knew was coming.

Finally, he made his way back to his apartment, a small but cozy place that was a stark contrast to the imposing office buildings he worked in. He dropped his bag on the couch and collapsed into a chair, feeling the weight of the day finally settle on him.

He pulled out his laptop and opened the proposal he'd been working on. He needed to make sure everything was perfect for tomorrow. As he reviewed the document, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from his boss, reminding him of the importance of the meeting with Lucien.

"Make sure you're ready, Ethan. This could make or break us."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No pressure," he muttered to himself.

He worked late into the night, fine-tuning every detail of his proposal. When he finally crawled into bed, his mind was still racing. He knew he needed sleep, but the anxiety gnawed at him, making it difficult to relax.

Tomorrow was a big day, and the uncertainty of it all was almost too much to bear. As he lay in the darkness, he couldn't shake the feeling that his entire future was hanging in the balance.

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