'You're not my child anymore. Don't come back!' Your father's words echo through your mind as you walk down the street, each step feeling heavier than the last. The weight of his rejection is a physical ache, a wound that throbs with every heartbeat. The night air is cold and unforgiving, wrapping around you like a shroud. You pull your jacket tighter, but it does little to ward off the chill seeping into your bones. You sigh deeply, your breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. Now what?

Lost in thought, you wander aimlessly, the city lights casting long shadows on the pavement. The streets are mostly empty, the occasional car passing by, headlights slicing through the darkness. You find yourself settling down on a bench, the cold wood a stark contrast to the warmth you once knew at home.

The bench creaks under your weight, but you don’t care. You’re too exhausted, too drained to move any further. You cover your face with your hands, trying to hold back the tears that threaten to spill over. The night is eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional rustle of leaves. The silence amplifies your loneliness, making you feel even more isolated.

"Oh? What are you doing here so late at night?" a voice interrupts your thoughts.

You look up, startled, and recognize the man standing before you. He’s one of your father's co-workers, someone who had been to your home a few times for work-related gatherings. Though you recognize him, he is still essentially a stranger to you, your interactions having been limited to polite greetings and brief exchanges. His presence here, in this lonely part of the city, is unexpected and jarring.