For the past hour, nothing had worked. Lack of inspiration, the dreary weather, or the sting of constant customer refusals—all of it conspired to keep you from finishing the project, forcing you to remain hunched over the table until the hour grew impossibly late.

You rested your head wearily on your elbows, hiding from the outside world, and stretched your numb arms just slightly. You allowed yourself to close your eyes... until you felt a light touch on your palm, and fingers intertwining gently with yours.

Alhaitham stood beside you, his face carrying its usual unreadable expression. He gave your hand a soft squeeze, quietly assessing the scale of the problem before him.

"Kaveh? Another order?"