Luna's third day at Cooper & Holt LLP dawned grey and uninviting, the overcast sky a mirror
for the heaviness that had begun to settle in her chest. Over the past few days, the excitement of
new beginnings had slowly given way to a gnawing anxiety—a fear that the distance between
her and Logan was widening into an abyss of silence. His reassuring texts from her first day had
been the only tether to his presence, and now, as the hours ticked by at work, his absence
weighed on her more heavily than ever.
The morning had unfolded like a well-rehearsed routine. Luna had arrived at the office with a
determined smile, her professional façade intact as she greeted colleagues and dove into a flurry
of assignments. Yet, beneath the surface of legal briefs and departmental memos, her mind kept
drifting back to her phone. Every pause between tasks was punctuated by the urge to check for a
message or missed call from Logan. Instead, there was nothing but the silent hum of unanswered
notifications.
At one point, while sorting through a stack of case files in her cubicle, Luna's eyes caught a
glimpse of a text conversation on a colleague's phone. They spoke of weekend plans and
light-hearted banter, a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had grown around her personal
world. Her stomach churned with worry. Had something happened? she wondered silently, her
heart fluttering in anxious beats.
Unable to shake the unease, Luna finally reached for her phone during a quiet lull in the
afternoon. With trembling fingers, she dialed the only other man she trusted implicitly—her twin
brother, Jace. His voice, measured and calm, had always been the steady counterpoint to her
sometimes tumultuous emotions.
"Hey, Lu," Jace answered, his tone warm and reassuring as always.
"Jace, I…I'm really freaking out over here," Luna confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's been three days, and I haven't heard anything from Logan except that one text on my first
day. I'm worried something's gone wrong. What if he's just…gone?"
There was a brief pause on the line, and Luna could almost picture Jace leaning back in his
favorite chair, his eyes soft with concern. "Luna, listen to me," he began, his voice steady and
unflappable. "I know it's hard not hearing from him, but you have to remember how much Logan
has been through for you. He's committed, and he cares deeply about you. Business trips can be
chaotic, and sometimes communication gets delayed. You've seen his work ethic and his
passion. Trust that he'll reach out as soon as he can."
Luna let out a shaky breath, the tension in her chest easing slightly with her brother's words. "I
guess you're right, Jace. It's just…this silence makes me feel so abandoned."
Jace's laugh was soft and laced with sibling affection. "Abandoned? Luna, we've been through
storms tougher than this. You're one of the strongest people I know. Besides, you've got me,
your friends, and a whole support system here in New York. Trust him—and trust yourself."
Their conversation continued in gentle reassurances, trivial yet meaningful chatter about their
shared memories and plans for the future. By the time they said their goodbyes, Luna's heart felt
a little lighter, bolstered by the unwavering confidence of her twin. She knew that sometimes,
silence was simply the precursor to something good—even if it wasn't immediately evident.
Just as she was about to return to her work, a soft knock on her cubicle partition interrupted her
thoughts. Ryan, her team lead, stepped over with a friendly, concerned look on his face. "Luna,
you look a bit off today. How are you holding up?" he asked, his tone imbued with genuine care.
Luna forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm fine, Ryan. Just a bit under the weather, you
know?" In truth, the pallor of her anxiety was not due to illness but the gnawing worry about
Logan's prolonged silence.
Ryan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I'm about to head out for lunch with a few team
members. You should come along—it might do you some good to step away from your desk for
a bit." His eyes were kind, and his invitation sounded sincere.
Luna hesitated, her mind racing with the thought of facing the day's mounting tension. "I…I'm
sorry, Ryan, but I'm not feeling up for lunch today," she offered, her voice laced with an
uncharacteristic finality. In truth, she had claimed a bout of period cramps as an excuse—a lie
born out of a desperate need to be alone with her swirling thoughts. Ryan's understanding nod,
though, seemed to acknowledge her unspoken need for solitude rather than challenge her
explanation.
"Alright, Luna, no pressure. Just know that the door is always open if you change your mind,"
Ryan said, offering a gentle smile before retreating to join his colleagues.
Left alone once more, Luna returned to her cubicle and tried to immerse herself in her work. But
every time her eyes scanned the legal documents before her, the text blurred with a mixture of
anxiety and longing. Her mind, unwilling to be tethered by mundane case details, wandered to
the last text she had received from Logan—a simple, "Miss you, Lu. I'll call soon." The words
now felt distant and insubstantial compared to the urgency of her present emotions.
As the afternoon wore on, the office gradually quieted, with most of the day's meetings
concluded and only a few employees lingering in their respective workspaces. Luna's phone lay
on her desk, a silent witness to her internal battle. Each time it vibrated, her heart would race in
the hope that it was Logan, only to be disappointed by the routine notifications of work emails or
system alerts.
The tension reached its peak as the day was drawing to a close. Luna found herself staring at the
screen, her mind churning with conflicting emotions—relief at having survived another day, and
an ever-growing irritation at the prolonged silence from the man who was supposed to be her
anchor. Just then, her phone rang unexpectedly, the caller ID flashing Logan's name. Luna's
heart skipped a beat—a mix of elation and a surge of irritation coursed through her veins.
For a long moment, she stared at the screen, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She wanted to
answer, to hear his voice and have his reassurances wash away the cold dread that had built up
inside her. But the lingering hurt and frustration had woven a stubborn resolve within her.
Determined to make him feel the distance she was enduring, Luna let the call go unanswered.
The phone rang a second time, then a third, each ring echoing in the quiet of her now nearly
empty cubicle.
Her colleagues exchanged knowing glances in the background as she finally silenced the
persistent calls. Luna's fingers hovered over the keyboard as she typed out a terse reply to an
automated message from the phone system, her internal monologue echoing with a mixture of
defiance and longing. Maybe he'll understand how much it hurts not to hear from him, even for a
little while.
The remaining minutes of the workday passed in a blur. Luna's mind drifted between the
intricacies of legal procedures and the raw emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Each time
her phone buzzed, a fresh wave of conflicting feelings crashed over her—excitement, anger,
relief, and above all, a deep-seated need for reassurance. She tried to focus on the tasks at hand,
but the unanswered calls from Logan loomed large like a specter, tainting every achievement
with a bittersweet aftertaste.
When the final bell rang and the office lights began to dim in preparation for closing, Luna shut
down her computer with deliberate care. She collected her things, her movements mechanical as
she navigated the familiar corridors that had, over the past three days, become both a sanctuary
and a battleground for her emotions. Outside, the city was already humming with the promise of
evening, a tapestry of neon lights and whispered secrets that beckoned to those who dared to
dream.
As she stepped into the cool embrace of New York's twilight, Luna's thoughts remained tethered
to the lingering ring of her phone—a reminder of the love that was simultaneously her comfort
and her torment. The ride home was a quiet journey of introspection, the hum of the subway
providing a meditative backdrop to the storm within her. Every passing station seemed to echo
with the silent promise of connection, yet each moment also underscored the gap between her
and Logan.
Finally, arriving at her apartment, Luna was greeted by the warm, familiar presence of Mia, who
had been waiting anxiously by the door. "Hey, Lu," Mia said softly, wrapping her in a comforting
embrace as if trying to physically absorb the weight of her worries. "Rough day?"
Luna nodded, her eyes tired and conflicted. "Yeah, it's been…long. I got a few more rings from
Logan before I left the office. I'm not sure what to do—I mean, I want to answer, but I'm so
frustrated."
Mia's brow furrowed with empathy. "Logan cares about you, Lu. I know it's hard not hearing
from him, but sometimes silence isn't a sign of neglect—it could just mean he's caught up in a
mess over there. Trust that he'll reach out when he can. And remember, you have people here
who care about you too."
As they settled into the living room, the soft glow of the city filtering through the window, Luna
allowed herself a small, rueful smile. "I guess I just need to give it some time," she murmured.
"Even if it hurts right now, I have to trust that he'll come through."
Mia squeezed her hand gently. "Exactly. And if you need to vent or just need some company, I'm
right here."
Mia reassurance was what she needed, she knew she would eventually give in to her boyfriend
but for now, she just wanted him to feel the same amount of anxiety that she had felt for the past
few days.
For now, Luna drifted into an uneasy sleep, comforted by the thought that every new circle of
life—no matter how challenging—carried with it the potential for healing, growth, and the
eventual return of the love she so desperately longed for.