It was a quiet evening in the penthouse. The sky outside was dark, filled with stars. The city lights blinked far below, but inside, everything felt still.
Ann sat curled up on the sofa, a warm blanket over her legs, her hand resting gently on her baby bump. The TV was on, but the sound was low. She wasn’t really watching just thinking.
Then, Richard entered the room. He looked tired, but not from work. There was something different in his eyes tonight softer, quieter.
“Can I sit?” he asked.
Ann nodded, moving a little to give him space.
He sat beside her, leaving a polite distance between them, but close enough that she could feel his presence. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said, “Do you ever wonder how people become who they are?”
Ann looked at him, surprised. “Sometimes. I
