LOGINELIThe sun was high and warm, casting a golden glow over the university grounds. The campus had been transformed for the graduation ceremony, rows of white folding chairs neatly lined up, a dais at the front, and banners flapping gently in the breeze, celebrating the Class of the Year. The air buzzed with laughter, excited chatter, and the occasional squeal of delighted students spotting friends and family.Maya and I walked together, our gowns were slightly heavy and our caps perched perfectly on our heads. The ceremony was orderly, but the energy was electric. Both of us had made the honors list this semester, and I felt a mix of pride and disbelief, after the whirlwind of the past year, it almost felt surreal to be standing here, moments away from officially graduating.I scanned the crowd as we approached our seats, and relief washed over me as I spotted my mom and Lizzy. Mom waved enthusiastically, her smile radiant even from a distance, and Lizzy gave me a thumbs-up. I couldn’t
CARTERThe city outside was alive with its usual buzz, but inside, my corner of the firm felt like a bubble. I was reviewing some case files, though my attention kept drifting. Weeks had passed since the Dante fiasco, the investigations, and everything with the ethics board, but even now, a residual tension lingered, as a cord stretched tight in the background of everything I did.A soft knock at the door broke my concentration.“Come in,” I called, without looking up.The door creaked open, and my father stepped in. He looked… different. Not entirely, but there was a subtle weariness in his eyes. I wondered who let him in.“Carter,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of uncharacteristic caution.I finally looked up, arched an eyebrow, and gestured toward the chair across from my desk. “You’re early. And unannounced. How are you here without warning the receptionist?”He gave a faint smile. “I thought I’d try something different for once. No games, no intermediaries.”I lea
ELIIt was the first day of my final year and it felt so unreal. Not in a dramatic, life-changing way. It just felt different. And after all the baggage I had to carry towards the end of last year, I’m happy I didn’t start the final year with all that.I stood just outside the main building, watching students move in clusters—laughing, complaining, dragging themselves into a new academic year. Some looked excited. Others already looked tired. As for me, in the coming year, I won’t be here anymore.Maya nudged me. “You’re doing that thing again.”“What thing?” I snapped out of my thoughts.“The staring-into-the-distance-like-you’re-in-a-movie thing.”I scoffed. “I’m not doing that.”“You are,” she said, grinning. “It’s very dramatic and annoying.”“I’m just thinking.”“Dangerous.”I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips.“I can’t believe this is our final year,” I said.“I can,” Maya replied instantly. “I’ve been waiting for this since the second year.”“That’s because yo
CARTERThe office felt different without Dante. It always would, but something foundational had shifted, like a piece of structure had been removed and everything else had subtly adjusted to compensate. It had been weeks. It was long enough for it to fade away but not long enough for it to feel normal.I stood by the window in my office, looking out at the late afternoon skyline. Summer had all but slipped away. The air outside carried that faint crispness that signaled the start of a new season.A knock came at the door.“Come in.”Liam stepped in, dressed a little more neatly than usual, a backpack slung over one shoulder.“Hey.”“Hey,” I replied, turning slightly. “You look like you’re about to go somewhere.”“I am,” he said. “Back to school. Thought I’d stop by before heading out.”I nodded, gesturing toward the chair.“Sit.”He dropped into it, setting his bag beside him. Neither of us spoke yet. There was still a certain awkwardness between us. We were still figuring out what
ELIThe air felt different after Dante left.Liam stood awkwardly near the door for a moment before muttering something about giving us space. I barely registered it. One second he was there, the next, the door had closed behind him and it was just me and Carter.I glanced at him. He hadn’t moved much since Dante walked out. He was still staring at the door like something might undo itself if he waited long enough.“Carter…” I said softly. No response.I took a step closer. “Hey.”That got him. He blinked slightly, like he was snapping back into the room, then dragged a hand down his face.“I should have seen it,” he said quietly.“You couldn’t have.”“I’ve known him my entire life, Eli.”“And that’s exactly why you couldn’t,” I replied.He let out a short, humorless breath. “That doesn’t make it better.”“No,” I admitted. “It doesn’t.”I walked closer until I was standing right in front of him.“You didn’t deserve that,” I said.His eyes flicked up to mine.“None of this,” I added. “
CARTER cont’dFor a moment, just a moment, I expected Dante to laugh or probably just brush it off.To say Eli and Liam had misunderstood something, that this was all a coincidence blown out of proportion.Instead, he just stood there, oblivious of the information I had just heard, still holding the bottle.“…Did I miss something?” he repeated.I straightened slowly. “You can put the bottle down,” I said.My voice sounded calm. His eyes flickered briefly before he set the bottle on my desk.“What’s going on?” he asked.I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I looked at Eli and Liam then back at Dante.“They think,” I said carefully, “that someone inside the firm helped orchestrate the ethics investigation against me.”Dante raised an eyebrow. “That’s a serious accusation.”“It is.”“And you’re entertaining it?” he questioned“I’m listening.”His gaze shifted to Eli and Liam, then to me and then back to them again, “And you think that someone is me?”There was silence in the room.I step
CARTER.I smiled at the files before me, a little victory. Even though it was temporary, it was still real.The first court hearing on the Maybel health facility case had gone well, even better than expected. I leaned back and rubbed a hand over my face.My phone buzzed and it was Dante.“Dante” I
CARTERI didn't want to be in this large cubicle but I was here anyway. Holloway sat calmly behind his desk with his glasses perched on his nose as he studied me.“I wouldn't pretend I didn't notice the tone of that meeting because I did” I spoke calmly.He leaned back in his seat, “You mean the cu
ELII woke up to Maya’s text this morning. “I'm sick, it might be food poisoning. Try to stay alive without me”The whole day went slowly, I missed Maya talking my ear off while we walked around campus.By noon, I felt almost normal. I hadn't been reminded of my problems or issues and I hadn't even
ELIMy homework lay half done on the table before me. I could not even finish doing it. Peace and quiet never existed in my home.My mother's voice was calm but still loud enough for me to hear all the way from my room. At the same time, my father’s voice was sharp and accusative.Lizzy appeared in




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