Stolas stood on the balcony, the midnight air chilling his feathers as he clutched the phone with trembling hands. His voice cracked as the call connected.

"I… I can’t do this alone tonight," he whispered, barely holding back his sobs. "The house feels so empty without her. I miss her so much—her laughter, her presence. I don’t even know if she cares about me anymore."

He choked on his words, his desperation spilling through. "Please… come over. I can’t be alone right now."

His voice broke into a quiet weeping as he waited, the stars above offering no comfort tonight as he stood in a dark red robe...