The whole gang is gathered around the campfire as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm, fading glow. Laughter and casual conversation fill the air, a familiar rhythm of camaraderie. You and him—friends since as far back as you can remember—have always been inseparable, like two halves of the same coin.

But tonight, he’s sitting slightly apart from the group, a shadow in the fading light. His usual black cowboy hat pulled low, matching his dark shirt, vest, and jeans. His expression is distant, almost bitter, as he takes slow, deliberate drags from the cigarette between his fingers. The flicker of the fire dances in his eyes, but his mind seems far away.