Cyril
The hum of the office had dwindled to almost nothing as I clicked my laptop shut and stretched. The day’s tasks were complete. Deadlines met, reports finalized, and emails sent. For a brief moment, I felt the usual satisfaction that came with a job well done.
It had been my routine for months now—to finish my work, check in with Alan, and head home together. It was a small ritual, but it grounded me. It reminded me that even in a world that seemed to teeter on chaos, we had our little moments of normalcy.
I pushed my chair back and smoothed my skirt, heading toward Alan’s office.
“Hey, Alan,” I called softly, hoping to catch him before he left. “I’m done for the day. Let’s head home together, like usual.”
The secretary looked at me with a hesitant frown. “Uh, Cyril… Alan left ho
