ETHAN'S LUNCH

Ethan had felt a wave of relief wash over him these past few days, a sense of normalcy returning to his life. He was committed to focusing on his marriage, and being the husband Laura deserved.

However, one afternoon, he realized he had forgotten an important document at home. It was a small mistake, one that could easily be fixed during his lunch break.

He returned home quickly, assuming the house would be empty. But as he pushed the door open, the familiar sound of soft footsteps greeted him.

Cila emerged from her room, her eyes locking onto his the moment he entered the hallway. She didn’t speak, simply stood there, her gaze intense. Ethan offered her a polite nod and headed straight for his bedroom, hoping the brief encounter would end there.

But as he gathered the document, something stirred inside him—an uninvited memory of the nights he had spent with Cila, the way her skin had felt against his, the way she had made him feel alive in ways he couldn’t admit to himself. H