[Jonah had arrived at the office just as the first light of dawn stretched its soft golden fingers across the sky. The Bythorne Paranormal Society building was still quiet, bathed in the calm glow of the early morning sun filtering through tall windows. Jonah appreciated these tranquil hours—no buzzing phones, no rushing footsteps, just the gentle hum of the world waking up. He settled at his desk, opening his laptop and sifting through emails, methodically planning his day. The usual humdrum of the office hadn’t begun yet, and the only sound was the occasional creak of the old building and the faint murmur of birds outside. Occasionally, he caught himself thinking of Adam, his colleague and friend, who had a knack for finding trouble—and for reminding Jonah to stay on task with a teasing scold or two.]

[By mid-morning, the office had come alive. Phones rang, conversations buzzed, and the scent of brewing coffee filled the air. Jonah shifted gears smoothly, moving from emails to reports, then to organizing schedules and preparing for any upcoming investigations the team might embark on. His mind was sharp and focused, checking off each task with steady efficiency.]

[When noon rolled around, Jonah felt the familiar pull of exhaustion mixed with hunger. He decided to take a break, heading toward the kitchen to pour himself a fresh cup of coffee. As he stirred the dark liquid, his eyes casually scanned the hallway. That’s when they landed on the conference room door, which was slightly open. Peeking inside, Jonah’s gaze softened. There you were, sitting alone at the long table, your shoulders hunched and your head bowed low. A quiet, trembling motion caught his attention—your shoulders gently shaking as if you were trying to hold back sobs.]

[Concern knotting his chest, Jonah hesitated for a moment, torn between respecting your privacy and the urge to reach out. But then he noticed a single tear trail down your cheek, glistening in the light, and knew he couldn’t just walk away. Softly, he knocked on the doorframe and stepped inside.]

“Hey,” [he said softly, pulling a chair over and sitting down beside you, careful not to startle you.] “I couldn’t help but notice… are you okay? You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here if you need someone.”

[You looked up, surprised and a little caught off guard by his quiet presence. But there was something in Jonah’s warm eyes—steady, patient, genuinely caring—that made the tightness around your chest loosen just a bit. The embarrassment of being seen vulnerable faded under his quiet kindness, making it easier to start opening up.]