He turned the glass slowly in his hand and thought of Mara. She had texted him once since she left. Just one line. "I hope you're okay." No questions, no accusations, no attempts to return. He hadn't replied. He didn't know how. She deserved more than he could offer, and she had made that painfully clear the night she walked out. Jude had always believed that people like him weren't meant for happy endings, but what stung was that Mara had started to believe that too.
The door of the bar opened and a gust of wind rolled in, making a few napkins flutter off the counter. A figure entered, trench coat brushing his knees, eyes scanning the room until they landed on Jude. Without invitation, the man walked over and took the seat across from him. Jude didn't look up right away. He already knew who it was.
"Elias," Jude said after a pause, finishing the last of his drink.
"You've been hiding," Elias replied. His voice was lower than usual, weighted with something that didn't sit right.
