CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: First Day at Work

I sit on the edge of the mattress, my n.aked body wrapped in a thin blanket, my eyes fixed on Hugh as he dresses himself in silence. The room is filled with a heavy, palpable sadness, a weight that presses down on us both.

Hugh's movements are deliberate but tinged with an undeniable sense of urgency. His shirt slips over his broad shoulders, his trousers pulled up over his toned legs. Each motion seems to push him further away from me, widening the chasm between us.

I can't tear my gaze away from him, can't help but feel the sting of tears threatening to spill over. This clandestine love we share, it’s a flame that burns bright but is always on the verge of being extinguished.

As Hugh fastens the buttons of his shirt, he finally glances down, his eyes meeting mine. There’s a flicker of regret there. He crosses the room and kneels before me, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. I flinch at his touch, my heart aching but grateful for the effort and time he’s given me today.

“We’