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    Liam’s POV


    That morning, the air felt colder than usual-either because I hadn’t slept well the night before, or there was something heavy hanging in the air. I straightened my tie while staring at the reflection of my face in the mirror. Behind me, I heard Noah’s little voice calling out, asking for help putting on his shoes.


    I turned around and saw Noah sitting on the floor, his small shoes scattered beside him. His hair was still messy, and he rubbed


    his eyes as he yawned.


    “Daddy, help,” he asked, his voice hoarse like any just-awoken child.


    I walked over and knelt in front of him. “Okay, but you have to sit still, alright?”


    Noah nodded quickly, his eyes still heavy with sleep. I picked up the pair of navy-blue shoes, held his tiny foot, and began putting them on one by one.


    “Daddy, are you going to work again?” he asked softly, looking up at me with clear eyes that made me feel guilty.


    I paused. “Yes, sweetheart. Daddy has to work.”


    He looked down, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “Mommy’s not here, and you’re always working…”


    I took a deep breath. I knew I hadn’t exined enough to him—or maybe I just wasn’t ready to exin at all. How could I give


    answers to a child that I didn’t even have for myself?


    “I promise, tonight we’ll eat ice cream together, okay? I’lle home early,” I said, trying to change the subject.


    His eyes lit up. “Pinky promise?”


    I gave a small smile and held up my pinky. “Pinky promise.”


    We linked fingers, and then heughed softly and hugged me tightly. His hug made me want to freeze time, just for a moment, so the world wouldn’t feel so heavy.


    After helping Noah stand and straightening the cor of his shirt, I went back to the mirror. The tie I’d straightened earlier suddenly felt too tight around my neck. I loosened it slightly, trying to breathe easier.


    I looked at our reflection-me with a weary face, and Noah standing beside me holding his stuffed toy. The emptiness in the room was palpable. Sienna used to be the one who fixed Noah’s hair, double-checked his lunchbox, reminded me not to forget the important folder.


    Now, there were no light footsteps in the hallway, no soft perfume scent drifting from the closet, no gentle voice calling my name in the morning.


    “What are you going to do at school today, Noah?” I asked while grabbing my jacket.


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    “I’m gonna draw… a house. Teacher said it’s going on the wall in our ssroom.”


    I smiled faintly. “A house, huh? Draw the house you like the most.”


    He nodded. “But Mommy has to be in it.”


    My chest tightened. I could only stare at him, then gently stroked his head.


    “Yes, Mommy will definitely be in it.”


    After making sure everything was ready, I walked out of the bedroom. In the living room, I saw Emily standing upright, wearing a


    beige long coat, arge suitcase beside her. Her makeup was wless as always, but this time… there was something different in


    her eyes.


    I paused, staring at the suitcase. “Are you leaving now?” I asked, trying to sound casual.


    Emily gave a short nod. “My manager is picking me up. I’m heading straight to the shoot location.”


    I nodded and stepped closer, reaching for the suitcase handle. “I’ll take you. I’ll drop Noah off at school too.”


    Emily looked surprised, but before she could answer, Noah came up from behind and grabbed her hand. “Come on, Auntie Emily.


    Let’s go!” he said cheerfully.


    Emily was silent for a moment. I could see a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, but in the end, she simply gave a small nod. “Alright.”


    We went down together. I loaded the suitcase into the car trunk and made sure Noah was buckled up in the back seat. Emily sat


    quietly in the front, staring out the window without a word.


    The car moved in silence. Only the soft sound of the radio and Noah’s asional murmur broke the stillness. When we arrived at


    the school, Noah kissed both my cheek and Emily’s before running in with his little backpack.


    “I love you both!” he said before disappearing behind the gate. His smile was so pure, and for some reason, it felt painful that


    morning.


    Emily and I stood silently for a moment, watching Noah’s small figure get farther away.


    Emily took a breath. “You can go to the office now, Liam. My manager will pick me up here.”


    I turned slowly to her. “No, I’ll take you. No arguments, Emily.”


    She turned her face away, as if she wanted to object, but then sighed and got back into the car without another word.


    As we sat together again, the car moved along a road that felt longer than usual. I didn’t know what I really wanted to say, but the atmosphere was too full of things left unsaid. The sound of tires on asphalt was the only thythm apanying us that morning.


    Emily stared straight ahead, but I caught a glimpse of exhaustion on her face-not just physically, but emotionally. She was leaving. Maybe not just for a few days. Maybe for good. I wasn’t really ready for that.


    But wasn’t I the one who let it all get this far?


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    The car kept moving in silence, taking us to different destinations. Though we sat side by side, it felt like we’d never been further


    apart.


    ***


    The journey to the photo shoot location took almost two hours. Inside the car, Emily and I hardly spoke. The silence wasn’t due to anger or coldness, but more because there were no more words that could bridge everything that was left unsaid between us. Each of us was trapped in our own thoughts.


    The car continued to drive down a gradually emptier road. Outside the window, the scenery changed quickly-rice fields, hills, and then small buildings that were bing rarer. The morning air still left a thinyer of dew on the window. I leaned my head back, trying to divert my attention from the awkwardness that hung between us.


    asionally, I nced over at Emily. She sat upright, staring straight ahead, her face expressionless. But I knew, there was a small storm brewing within her. Just like me. There were so many things I wanted to say, wanted to ask, but everything seemed stuck in my throat. I didn’t know when our rtionship had turned into something so cautious. Maybe it was when I decided to go back to Evan. Or maybe even before that.


    “Still far?” she suddenly asked, her voice soft enough to break the silence.


    “About thirty minutes,” I answered, ncing at the GPS on the dashboard. “The road’s a bit narrow, so we can’t go too fast.”


    “Hm.” She fell silent again, then took a deep breath. “The weather’s nice, though.”


    I nodded, trying to smile. “Yeah. I hope it doesn’t rain during the outdoor session.”


    At least we were talking again. Even if it was just small talk, it was better than being silent.


    The car passed an uphill road, and we started entering a small mountainous area. Trees lined both sides, forming a green corridor that felt cool. A thin mist began to fall, adding to the calm yet slightly mncholic atmosphere.


    “I had a strange dreamst night,” Emily suddenly said.


    I turned to look at her. “What dream?”


    She hesitated for a moment before answering. “I dreamt I was standing alone on a big stage. But the lights were off. There were no spectators. I… was just standing there, waiting for something that never came.”


    I didn’t respond right away. The dream sounded more like a symbol of what she was really feeling.


    “Are you afraid of being alone?” I asked quietly.


    GET IT N


    11:20 AM Tue 2 Sep