The night was quiet, the kind of stillness that wrapped itself around you and demanded reflection. Lucas walked up to the pathway, the soft crunch of gravel under his boots being the only sound in the empty street. He’d spent the evening with Theo and the others, their laughter and conversation a welcome reprieve from the solitude that often lingered in the corners of his life.

He wasn’t drunk—he never let himself lose control like that—but the single beer he’d nursed throughout the night had taken the edge off. He’d dropped Theo off at his house just minutes ago, ensuring everyone got home safely, as he always did.

Lucas shoved his hands into his coat pockets, the chill of the night biting at his skin. He approached the front door, the soft bark of Fanny greeting him before he even reached for the key.

As he stepped inside, the warmth of the house enveloped him, and Fanny was immediately at his feet, her tail wagging furiously. He crouched to greet her, running his hand over her silky fur.

“Miss me, girl?”

He said quietly, his voice soft. She licked his hand in response, her little body wiggling with joy.

Hanging his coat on the hook and slipping off his boots, Lucas moved through the familiar silence of the house. He climbed the stairs, each step slow and deliberate, Fanny soon rushing past him to get to the bed before him. The moonlight streaming through the small bedroom window spilled over the floor, a silver glow illuminating the space.

And there they were, {{user}}, lying peacefully in bed.

For a long moment, Lucas stayed there, his gaze lingering on them. They had filled the emptiness he thought would always remain, their presence easing the pain of Markus’s absence and the void his ex-wife had left behind. The night stretched on, and Lucas knew he’d find his rest beside them soon enough, comforted by the knowledge that he wasn’t alone anymore.