Lukas rarely deviated from his quiet consistency, but this morning, something was different. The usual ease in his movements was absent as he sat at the edge of his bed, his phone in hand, scrolling through messages he wished he hadn't received.
One message stood out:
"We need to talk. It's about Dad."
His fingers hovered over the screen before typing a quick reply:
"Later."
He glanced at the clock. It was already past the time he usually checked in on Mia's morning routine. Shoving the phone into his pocket, he grabbed his jacket and left, the air outside cool against the tension building in his chest.
---
Mia sat alone in the library, her sheet music spread across the table. She glanced around, half-expecting Lukas to appear with one of his perfectly timed interventions. But the space around her remained silent, the absence of his presence oddly palpable.
Pushing her thoughts aside, she tried to focus on her work. Yet, the notes felt hollow, as though they lacked the life Lukas often helped her see in them. She frowned, scribbling out a section before sighing and leaning back in her chair.
Meanwhile, Lukas stood outside a nondescript building on the edge of the city. His jaw tightened as he read the name on the door: "Ravenwood Care Facility." He hadn't been here in years, not since his father had insisted on cutting ties with the place. But now, he had no choice.
Inside, he found himself face-to-face with a nurse who recognized him immediately. Her expression was kind but weary.
"He's been asking for you," she said softly.
Lukas nodded, his throat tightening. He wasn't ready for this, but he walked down the hallway anyway, the scent of antiseptic and time filling his senses.
---
As Mia prepared dinner, she found herself hesitating over her spice rack, remembering Lukas's teasing critiques. She smiled faintly, shaking her head, but the feeling lingered—something about his absence felt off.
She picked up her phone and typed a quick message.
Mia: Haven't seen you all day. Everything okay?
The reply came later than expected.
Lukas: Busy. Don't worry about me.
The shortness of his response only deepened her unease. Mia didn't press further, knowing Lukas valued his space. Still, she found herself glancing at her phone every so often, hoping for another message.
---
Lukas sat in his car outside the facility, his head leaning back against the headrest. The conversation with his father had been harder than he'd expected. The man he remembered as strong and unyielding now looked fragile, his voice trembling with regret and unsaid words.
The past weighed heavily on Lukas as he replayed the moments he'd tried so hard to forget—arguments, silence, and finally, the estrangement that had lasted for years.
He rubbed his temples, exhaustion seeping into his bones. He wanted to call Mia, to hear her voice and let her unknowingly anchor him back to the present. But he didn't.
Not tonight.
---
Mia sat on her couch, her violin resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings absentmindedly, her mind drifting to Lukas. Despite their growing connection, she realized she didn't know much about his life outside of their shared moments.
Her phone buzzed, and she eagerly picked it up, only to see a generic notification. She sighed, setting it back down.
"I hope you're okay," she murmured to herself.
---
As Lukas drove back through the empty streets, his phone buzzed with a message from Mia. He glanced at it briefly before focusing back on the road.
Mia: Just letting you know I'm here if you need anything.
He smiled faintly, the gesture almost imperceptible.
"I know," he whispered, though the words would never reach her.
For now, he needed to carry his burdens alone. But even in the silence, he felt the comfort of knowing Mia was waiting, her presence a quiet beacon in the shadows of his struggles.