- AUTHOR'S POV -

Chaya cast a quiet glance at the wall clock, the ticking sound echoing louder than usual in the stillness of the house, and let out a soft sigh she didn’t even realize she had been holding back. It was already 1:30 in the morning… and he still hadn’t come home. The dinner she had prepared hours ago sat untouched on the table, long gone cold, yet she hadn’t had the heart to clear it away. What if he came? What if, for once, he decided to eat? What if tonight was different? The thoughts circled endlessly in her mind, fragile hope refusing to die even after being crushed countless times before. She wondered if he had eaten outside, if he had even thought about it—or if, like always, she simply didn’t exist in his world beyond a name tied to his.