survival of the fittest

Saturday night

8:00 P.M.

As the silence continued to drag in the room, Rene stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his cufflinks, his thoughts scattered.

The weight of what the evening would bring pressed heavily on him, knowing what he had to do at the party.

His jaw tightened as he glanced toward the bathroom door. Maria had been in there for a while, far longer than usual, and the silence between them was beginning to suffocate him.

“She’ll understand after tonight,” he mumbled to himself.

He wanted to believe that, to hold on to the hope that after this, after the apology, he could fix things between them. But the doubt lingered. Maybe it was already too late.

He finished dressing, straightening his jacket, and smoothing down his tie. He looked sharp, every detail of his outfit perfect, but it all felt hollow.

The room felt too quiet, too cold without Maria’s voice. He turned and stared at the bathroom door for the longest time, hating the silence more than anything. Every s