After her short chat with Jerry, Hayley tried to get back to work. But honestly, the day felt like a blur. Her mind kept drifting, and the usual buzz of the office seemed too loud in the background. Every email she responded to felt like a chore, and even the simplest tasks became harder to focus on.
It was one of those days where nothing seemed to click, and by the time the clock hit five, she couldn't get out of there fast enough. She gathered her things and left the office, hoping the evening would bring a little peace.
But as soon as she stepped outside, the cool air hit her, and her head started to throb. Not again, she thought, rubbing her temples. The migraine that had been building all day seemed to hit her with full force now.
She decided to skip the usual errands and headed straight home. She needed to rest—badly.
By the time she reached her apartment, she barely made it through the door before she collapsed onto her bed. The headache was so intense that even the darkness of her room felt like too much. She curled up under the covers, hoping that sleep would take away the ache in her head.
A couple of hours later, her phone buzzed, waking her from a light nap. She squinted at the screen, groaning when she saw Sarah's name.
Sarah:
"Hey, I know it's late, but I figured you might be up. You okay? I'd been trying to reach you
Hayley smiled despite herself. She'd barely texted Sarah all day, and it was good to hear from her.
Hayley:
"I'm okay, just a little headache. It's been one of those days."
Sarah:
"Ugh, I feel you. What's been going on? Tell me everything."
Hayley spent the next hour talking with Sarah.
Meanwhile, across the city, Ryan was lying on his couch, staring at the TV without really watching it. His mind kept drifting, and no matter how hard he tried to focus on something else, one person kept coming back to him—Hayley.
It was maddening. He had been trying to shake the thought of her for days now, but it was like trying to forget something that was always just there, lurking in the back of his mind. The way she moved, the way her voice made everything feel like it mattered.
He'd never been this distracted by someone before. But every time she was near, it was like something inside him was pulled in her direction. He hated it. He wasn't supposed to feel like this. Not now, not with the work he had to do, not with everything else he had going on.
As he rubbed his forehead, trying to clear the headache creeping up on him, he heard a knock at the door. It was so late. Who could it be?
He hesitated for a moment before getting up and walking to the door, wondering if it was a late-night delivery or something mundane.
But when he opened the door, his breath caught in his chest.
Standing there, in the dim light of his doorway, was someone he hadn't expected to see.
"Ryan," the figure said, their voice calm but carrying an undeniable aura
His heart skipped a beat.