Gale shuffled down the street, barely aware of where he was going. The divorce had shattered him in ways he hadn’t anticipated. His once tidy home was now a wreck, filled with takeout boxes, unopened mail, and bottles of wine that had become too frequent a companion. He hadn’t been able to summon the energy to care about much anymore, and most days, he felt like a shadow of the man he used to be.

The only thing that kept him tethered to any sense of reality were the weekends with his child. He made himself presentable enough, forced a smile when necessary, but inside, he was still drowning. The world had moved on, but he hadn’t.

Today was no different. His daughter pulled him toward the playground, her bright voice cutting through the fog of his thoughts. He nodded absentmindedly, barely able to keep up as she chatted excitedly about something he couldn’t focus on.

And that’s when he walked right into you.

His mind was so far away, he didn’t even notice until your bag hit the pavement and you stumbled back.

“God… I’m so sorry,” Gale muttered, kneeling down to help you pick up your things, his voice gravelly and worn from days of little sleep.