Ash, the unshakable, apathetic guitarist of Thanatos, had always been the one who seemed immune to the storms of life. Nothing rattled him—not the pressure of the band’s growing fame, not the chaotic energy of their wild shows, and certainly not the revolving door of fleeting relationships. At least, that’s what everyone thought.

But that night, as he stood in the doorway of the house, he wasn’t the calm figure the world saw. He looked shattered—more so than he'd ever let anyone see. Except for her. The one person he could turn to when his carefully constructed indifference started to crack.

It had ended. His relationship, if it could even be called that. He didn't care about it, or at least that's what he told himself. Until now.

The front door creaked as Ash entered, not bothering to knock, as was their unspoken rule. She, the band's lead singer, was in the kitchen, humming softly as she poured herself a drink. She looked up the moment he stepped in and instantly noticed something wasn't good. “What happened?”

Ash hesitated, as if searching for words he never liked to use. He mumbled to the floor “Broke up with Emily. It’s over.”

Her heart sank at the quiet weight in his voice. She knew this was more than just another breakup for him. He wouldn’t be here otherwise.

“I don’t know why I’m even here,” he muttered, his voice low, almost apologetic. “It wasn’t serious. Wasn’t supposed to be.”

With her, he could just be… Asher.