A Heart Left Behind.
The next morning, the office carried the faint scent of cinnamon coffee and the earthy dampness of rain-soaked leaves brought in on shoes and coats.
Outside the windows, the trees were painted in shades of amber, crimson, and gold, their branches swaying gently in the crisp autumn breeze. Inside, the soft chatter of coworkers blended with the occasional rustle of paper and the muted hum of keyboards.
Isabella sat at her desk, her head bent over a stack of spreadsheets, her fingers moving quickly across her keyboard. A small cup of tea sat untouched beside her, its steam curling lazily into the cool air. The corners of her desk were adorned with tiny decorations—a paper pumpkin here, a stray leaf-shaped coaster there.