FIFTY-FOUR
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. For a brief, blissful moment, I forgot about everything—about Ivan, about Jennifer, about Louis, and Wade. But as soon as I sat up and stretched, reality came crashing back. The weight of the previous night's decisions settled over me like a heavy fog, and I knew there was no escaping it.
But there was work to be done. Life wasn't going to wait for me to sort out my feelings, and honestly, maybe that was a good thing. Throwing myself into work seemed like the only way to keep my mind from spiraling any further.
After a quick shower, I dressed in comfortable but stylish clothes—something that made me feel like I had it all together, even if I didn't. I needed that boost of confidence today. I grabbed my laptop, a fresh cup of coffee, and sat down at the small desk by the window, which had become my makeshift workspace.