26

NATE

I slammed my fingers on the keyboard, trying to focus on the work in front of me. The sleeves of my shirt were rolled up, my tie loosened, and my eyes fixed on the screen, but my mind was elsewhere. The office was a welcome distraction, a place where I could hide from the mess my life had become. Being here was easier than going home and facing Vivian. Seeing her face and pretending nothing had happened was out of the question.

I couldn't do that. I wouldn't.

It was impossible to ignore the turmoil churning inside me. My mental state was a wreck, and I was using work as a shield. When my meetings got rearranged, and the workload increased, I welcomed it. It was better than dealing with the confusion and guilt that plagued me.

Gran was furious that I was spending nights at a hotel instead of going home to my wife. But how could I tell him the truth? How could I explain that I was avoiding home because I couldn't look Vivian in the eyes? The sorrow and sadness I'd caused her were un