CAUGTH

GABRIEL

I'm wallowing in self pity on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall, lost in thought. That's when Laleh decides to make her grand entrance, like a storm that doesn't knock before it tears your house apart. She sways into my room, her confidence filling the space more than any furniture ever could.

"Gabriel," she purrs, her voice smooth like silk but with a dangerous undertone. "We belong together, you know?"

I raise an eyebrow, my heart not even skipping a beat. "Laleh, what are you doing here?"

She moves closer, her scent enveloping me. It's like being hit by a floral truck. "I'm here for you, Gabriel. It's time to move on. Mia is gone."

I stand up, putting some much-needed distance between us. "Laleh, I'm not—"

"Oh, come on, Gabriel," she cuts me off, her hands finding their way to my chest. "Stop living in the past. Mia left you. She's not coming back."

I gently but firmly remove her hands. "And that's my cue to emotionally shut down. Thanks for playing, Laleh."

She steps