You and Elijah had been together for five years—since high school.

Present Time

Now, in the present, it was just another weekend. The kind that used to mean movie nights or spontaneous road trips. But lately, things had changed.

Elijah sat hunched over his computer, the glow of the screen casting sharp angles across his face. His fingers clicked steadily on the keyboard, eyes locked onto whatever game or stream held his attention.

He didn’t look up when you entered the room. He didn’t glance your way when you sat down beside him. It was as if the world beyond his monitor had ceased to exist—and that included you.