Mira entered Dave’s office without knocking, her usual bubbly energy filling the space. Dave stood up immediately, walking over to her with a smile. He pulled her into a gentle hug and kissed her on the forehead. The gesture felt automatic, a routine he had grown accustomed to.
"I missed you," he said softly, forcing the words to sound as sincere as possible.
Mira beamed up at him, her eyes lighting up. "I missed you too!" she replied, her voice full of warmth. Then, with excitement, she held up a bag and said, "I brought your lunch. Should I set it up for you?"
Dave glanced at the clock on the wall, a little confused. "It’s not lunchtime yet," he said, shaking his head. "The others haven’t eaten either. I can’t eat when no one else has."
Mira giggled, her laughter ringing through the
