The cold morning air hits my skin as I remain seated in the front doorway of my apartment, staring at the man on my porch. My fingers tightens, my pulse thudding a slow, heavy rhythm in my ears. "Roland? How did..." My voice trails off, hollowed out by the sheer impossibility of his presence. "Zara gave me your address," he replies quietly. His voice lacks its usual light, effortless rhythm. It feels strange, deeply unsettling to see him look so utterly defeated. His posture that usually radiates relaxed confidence is slumped, his shoulders bowed as if carrying an invisible weight. "You can come in" He gulps, his eyes darting frantically across the floorboards, the doorway, the empty street—looking everywhere except at my face. "How are you?" I question, the words slipping out automatically despite the storm brewing in my chest..He swallows again, his throat bobbing hard. "I'm sorry." "What?" The sudden, unprompted apology catches me completely off-guard. I freeze, unable to do a
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