On The Doorstep

It was a pleasant morning. The warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze contrasted sharply with the turmoil inside him, feeling a deep sense of regret and sorrow, a constant ache that gnawed at him relentlessly. His eyes fell upon a dead tree in the garden below, its barren branches hanging limp and lifeless. It was a perfect metaphor for his current state; empty, broken, and withering away, just like him.

He couldn't shake the regret that plagued him every moment of his every day. If only he had trusted Lily, even for a second, he might not be standing here alone. The thought tormented him. He imagined a different life, one where he had a family, one where he hadn't driven her away with his baseless accusations and mean behaviour.

The weight of his actions had become too much to bear. He needed to find a way to heal, to make everything alright. Zared's thoughts constantly drifted back to Lily. Every time he remembered her painful smile, a clenching pain gripped his heart.

How had