“Either way,” Matt said, taking another sip from his water bottle. “It sounds like you’re in the middle of some serious soul-searching. Just don’t go ripping your muscles apart in the process, okay?” I chuckled, standing up and gripping the barbell once again.”No promises.” … I was wiping down

Nina “Could you pass the salt?” Enzo’s voice snapped me back to reality, pulling me out of the deep train of thought that I had been stuck in; constant questions of what-if, anxiety, maybe even a little fear. “Sure,” I said, handing him the salt shaker from across the counter. Our hands brus

Nina The moment the nausea hit me, I knew something was off. It wasn’t just a twinge of discomfort, either. It was a mad dash to the bathroom to keep myself from making a mess all over the entire house. When I finally leaned over the toilet, emptying whatever remnants were in my stomach, I felt

“If you say so,” he replied, but I could sense the reluctance and restrained anxiety in his tone. “I do. Now go get some dinner, and enjoy your night.” “Alright. I love you, Nina.” “I love you too, Enzo. Goodnight.” We hung up, and I was alone again in the silence of our empty home. I sank o

Nina The sterile smell of antiseptic solution filled the air. The hospital lights overhead were blinding, casting everything with a whitish glow. As I lay there on the hospital bed, shivering in that awful, open-back gown with an IV poking out of my arm, I couldn’t shake off the sense of dread t

Nina The familiar scent of home enveloped me, instilling me with a sense of calm as I walked through the front door. The bag of medications and pamphlets was still clutched tightly in my hand, but I wasn’t quite ready to face reality and read what the doctor had given me. Not yet, at least. With

“You’re right, Luke,” I said softly, my voice filled with a combination of regret and exhaustion. “I can’t believe I was even considering it. I’ll wait until Enzo gets back from his weekend trip. We need to discuss this in person.” Luke sighed, his eyes softening as he nodded. “That sounds like th

Enzo The clatter of hockey sticks and the distinct screech of skates cutting into the ice enveloped me as Tim and I entered the arena. It was a different vibe than what I was used to back in Mountainview—less polished, maybe a little rougher around the edges—but it was hockey, and that was home en

I laughed, momentarily taken aback by her directness. “Yes, I’m married. Happily, might I add.” Mila’s smile morphed into something enigmatic, a strange blend of amusement and intrigue. She tossed a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder and folded her arms across her chest. “Well, I must say, I’d

Nina I was standing in the middle of a dark forest, the air heavy and thick with fog. Moonlight pierced through the canopy of tall pine trees, casting elongated shadows that seemed to dance and flicker in the wind. But I wasn’t alone. There it was again—the shadow entity I had been seeing far