Shadows of Deceit

Michael woke up in his office, the cold leather couch doing nothing to ease the weariness in his bones. His eyes were red-rimmed from the sleepless night, and he groaned as he pushed himself up. The morning light seeped through the blinds, casting harsh lines across his disheveled figure.

He stumbled into the small attached bathroom, going through the motions of his morning routine with mechanical precision. The hot water from the shower did little to revive him, and the act of shaving felt almost futile. As he stood before the mirror, he took a moment to stare at his reflection. The man looking back at him seemed a stranger, burdened by the weight of his actions and the secrets he kept.

With a resigned sigh, Michael dressed and headed to the ICU. Jessica’s parents were already there, their anxious faces a stark contrast to the clinical calm of the hospital. He checked Jessica’s vitals, noting with relief that they were stable.

“She’s doing well,” he informed her parents. “Her conditi