Chapter 48

• The morning brought the chirping of birds, accompanied by the hustle and bustle of people, jolting Wyatt awake. The realization that he had slept in the office last night flooded his senses, along with the reasons that led him to such a decision. He sat up forcefully from the couch where he had laid casually, feeling the burning on his neck from the uneven surface he had chosen for his restless sleep.
• The lingering effects of alcohol still held their sway as he rubbed his forehead, attempting to ease the dull ache. Checking the time, he noticed the clock rushing toward the noon hours. His eyes landed on the door, half-expecting Hazel to come and bother him, perhaps to ask him to take her to the hospital. But the thought quickly dissipated as he realized she must have harbored resentment towards him for his actions.
• Making his way towards the kitchen, Wyatt's eyes involuntarily searched for Hazel, his ears straining to hear her anklet-adorned footsteps, his nose yearning for a trace of her fragrance. But there was nothing, just the empty silence echoing through the corridors. Mrs. Cox extended a glass of lemon water without uttering a greeting, her expression a mixture of disapproval and concern. Wyatt accepted it silently, knowing he deserved this cold reception for dragging the old lady into his mess. The weight of his actions settled heavily upon him as he took a sip, the bitterness of the lemon water mirroring the bitterness in his heart.