Chapter Twenty-Three
Liam It’s been a month since Mia left, and every day feels like a lesson in patience, trust, and… missing her more than I ever thought possible. The days are long. My routine feels off without her laughing in the kitchen, or storming into my room just to tease me about something ridiculous. Even my garage projects aren’t the same—they’re quieter, emptier. But tonight… tonight is different. We’ve scheduled a “virtual dinner date,” which sounds ridiculous, but it’s the closest thing to seeing her in person for now. I’m sitting at the kitchen table, pizza in front of me, laptop open, the glow of her face filling the screen. “Wow,” I say, grinning, “you went all out for this?” She’s got candles—well, LED candles—and a tiny salad she’s clearly overthinking. “It’s the thought that counts,”
- Writer
