Chapter 34

• Damien pushed open the glass door of his office building, the midday sun catching him off guard as it broke through the cloud cover overhead. The bustling street was alive with chatter and the honking of cars, but at that moment, all he felt was a sense of stillness within himself. The weight of his impending engagement pressed heavily on his shoulders; everyone seemed so excited, but he felt a flicker of uncertainty that he couldn't quite shake.
• With a sigh, he decided it was time for a break. He needed lunch, perhaps something hefty to ground him, to stabilize the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head. As he walked, he aimed to drown out the noise of the world and focus on the task at hand. But just a few steps into his stroll, a flash of movement caught his eye.
• He looked down to find a small boy standing there, no more than six years old. The child had tousled hair that danced in the breeze and bright, shining eyes that seemed to hold an ocean of curiosity. It took Damien a moment to register, but then he remembered—the same boy he had encountered not long ago, when he had just been leaving the café after a meeting.