Walking into the office that morning, I expected another ordinary day of burying myself in work. But then I saw him: the man who had destroyed my life. My chest tightened, and memories flooded back. I had no idea how to cope. I knew I couldn’t stay in the same room as him.

I woke up again with a heavy weight on my chest, as if a giant rock had pinned me to the bed. I looked at the clock. 7:45. If I didn’t get up now, I’d be late for work. Again.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I forced myself to overcome the oppressive feeling, swung my legs over the bed and stood up.

The floor was a mess: clothes everywhere, clean and dirty, carelessly piled up.

I grabbed the nearest thing, put on a shirt and some wrinkled pants, and went downstairs. Each step felt heavier.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sophie was already in the kitchen. She moved purposefully, washing dishes that I should have washed last night.

He didn’t even look at me. He shouldn’t have to clean up after me, but he did.

I had grown up too fast, taking on responsibilities no teenager should have. I felt a tightness in my chest again, but this time it wasn’t just heaviness. It was guilt.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Do you want me to make you breakfast?” I asked her.

“No. I’m fine,” Sophie said, her tone curt and distant. She didn’t even look up, busy zipping her backpack and grabbing a banana from the counter.

“Do you need me to take you to school?” I asked, even though I knew what her answer would be.

“Grandma is going to take me,” she answered firmly, walking towards the door without slowing down.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated, but I followed her. “I just wanted to wish you a good day.”

“Sure,” he murmured softly, shaking his head.

When she opened the door, my eyes fell on the photo on the wall. Kira was smiling brightly, holding little Sophie in her arms. They both looked so happy, so carefree.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You know you’re not the only one who’s lost it, right?” Sophie said suddenly, her voice tense. Before I could answer, she left and closed the door behind her.

I stared at the photo for a long time, then at the wedding ring I still wore on my finger. “We miss you so much,” I whispered to Kira’s picture.

Before I could get back to the kitchen, my phone buzzed on the counter. It was a message from Mom.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Mother:

Sophie has a debate competition tomorrow. It would be great if you came.

I stared at the screen for a moment. Mom had done so much for us this past year, stepping in when I couldn’t.

I had barely been a person, just an empty shell keeping up with the times. Mom had kept Sophie steady when I couldn’t even get out of bed.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Ethan:

She doesn’t want me there.

@Mother:

He’ll be grateful you came.

I let out a heavy sigh. I put my phone in my pocket, grabbed my work bag, headed for the door, and left.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

As soon as I entered the office, I heard footsteps approaching even before they reached my desk. It was Mr. Harris, my boss.

“Ethan, good morning,” she said, her tone optimistic, as if she had good news to share. I nodded quickly and continued walking toward my table, hoping she wouldn’t follow me. She did.

“Do you remember when we talked about bringing someone in to help you with your workload?”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Yes,” I replied sharply. I didn’t care. More work, less work, it didn’t matter. I just wanted to bury myself in tasks, anything to stop thinking for a while.

“Well, we’ve found someone great. Mark, come here!” Mr. Harris exclaimed cheerfully.

I didn’t bother to look up, shuffling papers on my desk as if I were already busy.

Then I saw a hand reaching out toward me. I reluctantly looked up and froze. It was him .

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

My chest tightened, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe. Mark’s face reflected my shock, and I saw fear flicker in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I shouted, at a volume that made heads spin all over the office.

“I… didn’t know you worked here. I’m sorry,” he stammered.

Mr. Harris intervened quickly, concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong, Ethan? This is Mark, our new employee. He’ll be working with you.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I glared at him. “I’m not working with him! I’m not even staying in the same building as him.” I turned to Mark, seething with rage. “Get out!”

“I’ve been looking for a way to apologize to you,” Mark said, his voice trembling, as if he had been rehearsing this moment.

“Out. Out,” I repeated.

Mr. Harris stood firm, now in a resolute tone. “Ethan, Mark works here. He’s not going anywhere.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Then I’ll leave!” I clicked my tongue and stormed out, leaving the office in stunned silence behind me.

Outside, the cold air hit me, but it didn’t help. The memories crowded in, relentless and vivid.

That night is seared into my memory, as clear as if it had just happened. I can still hear the piercing wail of sirens, cutting through the darkness. Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the street, making everything seem surreal.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Then I saw her. Kira lay motionless in the ambulance. Lifeless. I felt like my legs were going to give out.

There were police everywhere, shouting orders and directing traffic. There were two wrecked cars, crushed like crumpled paper.

Kira’s car was unrecognizable, barely more than twisted metal. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him: Mark. He was a few feet away, handcuffed, his face pale and sunken. A police officer led him toward a patrol car.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I remember someone saying, ” He wasn’t driving drunk. Just recklessly.”

As if that would make it any better. If it hadn’t been for Mark, Kira would still be here. If she hadn’t been so reckless, everything would be different. Everything.

“I’m sorry,” a voice said, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned and saw Mark standing there.

“Your apologies won’t bring my wife back,” I shouted, my voice high and full of rage.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I regret that night every day,” Mark replied. His voice was firm, but his eyes betrayed the weight of his guilt.

“It should have been you. Not her,” I said.

“I know,” she said softly, looking down at the ground. “I wish it had been me too.”

“You took everything from me!” I screamed. My hands trembled as anger boiled over. “You destroyed my life! My daughter barely looks at me. She thinks I’m weak. She hates me because of you.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mark winced, but didn’t look away. “I’ll never forgive myself for what happened,” he said. “But at least you still have someone.”

“How dare you!” I spat, my fists clenched. “Kira should still be here!”

Mark took a deep breath. “The accident happened because I was rushing to the hospital,” he said, his voice trembling. “My wife was in labor. The delivery became complicated. I panicked. I lost control. After the accident, they told me… that neither my wife nor my baby survived.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. “I know your pain,” she said gently.

“You know nothing!” I roared, rage taking hold of me. “If you hadn’t rushed in, my wife would still be alive,” I added, my words sharp as a knife.

Mark shuddered. His jaw tightened as he looked at me, his own pain reflected on his face. “Go to hell,” he spat, his voice deep and furious. Then he turned and walked toward the office, leaving me standing there.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I froze, my breath ragged, my mind racing. Deep down, I knew the truth. If I’d been in their shoes, if it had been Kira or Sophie, I would have done the same. I would have driven just as fast.

Shaking my head, I forced myself to move. I got into my car and drove home, my chest heavy with the weight of everything I couldn’t undo.

The next day, I entered the office without saying a word and sat down at my desk. My eyes remained fixed on the stack of papers in front of me.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mark looked at me from across the desk. His expression surprised me. He wasn’t angry or defensive. Instead, his eyes held a quiet compassion.

I immersed myself in my work, flipping through documents and typing nonstop. It was easier than thinking. Easier than feeling.

That afternoon, Mr. Harris dropped a stack of files on my desk. “I need you to finish these in the morning,” he said. I nodded and picked up the first folder.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

As I concentrated on my task, my phone buzzed on the desk. A message from Mom lit up the screen:

Will you come to the debate?

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath.

“What’s going on?” Summer asked as she walked by with her coat draped over her arm. She stopped, looking genuinely curious.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“My daughter’s debate is tonight,” I said, rubbing my temples. “I have to finish all the work. I won’t be able to go.”

“That’s a shame,” Summer said gently. “I probably wish you were there.”

“I wouldn’t want to,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It wouldn’t matter to me whether I went or not. I’d be better off without you.”

Summer frowned, but didn’t argue. She patted me gently on the shoulder. “Good night, Ethan,” she said before leaving.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The office fell silent when she left. Then Mark spoke, his voice firm. “I’ll finish the job for you.”

I turned to him, surprised. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I’ll carry the guilt of that night for the rest of my life,” she said, looking me in the eye. “But you still have a chance to make things right with your daughter. Don’t waste it.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I shook my head. “It’s too late. I’ve lost her.”

Mark leaned slightly forward, his voice firm but calm. “You can’t save the dead, Ethan. But it’s never too late to save the living. Especially someone as precious as your daughter.”

I stared at him for a moment, then slowly stood up. He nodded, and I nodded back. I grabbed my jacket and ran out of the office.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I arrived at Sophie’s school as fast as I could, my heart racing the whole way. I pushed open the front door and followed the faint sound of voices to the auditorium.

I entered silently and scanned the scene. There she was, standing next to another student, her hands flailing nervously.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She seemed frozen. It was as if she couldn’t find the words. Then her eyes met mine. I smiled and waved.

Her face softened, and for the first time in ages, she smiled back at me—a small, genuine smile. She raised her hand in a silent gesture, and I felt something inside me shift. She looked so much like her mother.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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