The Puppeteer’s Smile
The night was thick with humidity, clouds hanging low like a curtain waiting to fall. Inside Noah’s apartment, the lights were dim, casting long shadows across the floor as Anna and Noah sat across from each other—silent, raw, unsure of what the next breath would bring.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” Noah admitted, his voice low. “But I want to.”
Anna hesitated, her hands curled in her lap. “You can’t just pick up where we left off.”
“I know.” His eyes shimmered with guilt and longing. “But if you’ll let me… I’ll start from the beginning. I’ll earn you back piece by piece.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She frowned and hesitated.
“Just answer it,” Noah said gently. “Maybe it’s important.”
She picked up.
A soft stat
