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    Liam’s POV


    Streetlights lined up like man-made stars that never dimmed, illuminating the path I followed out of the parking lot. The hum of the car engine blended with the rush of the night wind, creating a silence that only amplified the echo of my thoughts. My hands were still gripping the steering wheel tightly, as if letting go even a little might make me lose my way-not just on the road, but in


    life itself.


    I didn’t drive straight onto the main road. Instead, I let the car roll slowly, passing block after block of identical buildings.


    Somewhere in one of those upper-floor windows, I knew there was light from her apartment. Even though I couldn’t see clearly,


    the shadow of her presence lingered in my eyes. I forced myself not to look too long, not wanting to appear like someone utterly


    desperate. But inside, I knew I was already at that point.


    Memories spun back quickly, uncontrobly. Sienna with herughter, with the way she used to call my name half-annoyed, with


    that gaze of hers that could make the world stop. And then, the image of thatst day surfaced again—the day I shattered everything with a foolish choice I still couldn’t fully understand. How could I have let her walk away so easily? How could I not


    have fought harder back then?


    The weight of regret pressed against my chest. But along with it, a small ember of resolve flickered. I would not allow regret to be


    the end of this story. Not this time.


    I pulled the car over for a moment at the side of the road, right beneath a dim yellowmp. Switching on the cabin light, I caught a


    glimpse of my reflection in the rearview mirror. These eyes looked older now, ringed with fatigue. But behind all of that, I could


    see something different: courage. Something I never had when it came to choosing between her and my own pride.


    The phone in my pocket buzzed briefly. A message from the office group. I nced at it, then ignored it. Tonight, my thoughts


    were only for Sienna. Everything else felt distant, unimportant. What mattered was that small step earlier-knowing where she


    was, hearing her voice again, even if her words were cold and sharp. That alone was enough to make me feel alive again.


    I lit a cigarette I had kept in the dashboard for a long time. The drag didn’t really calm me-it only thickened the air inside the car. But I needed something to fill the emptiness between the loud thumps of my heartbeat. The smoke curled, then slipped out with a


    long exhale.


    The clock on the dashboard showed almost ten at night. The streets were growing quiet, with only the asional car passing by. I finally pressed the gas pedal again, letting the car slowly crawl away from her apartmentplex.


    Yet even as the wheels carried me farther, I knew part of me was still there. On the same floor as hers. In that hallway where I stood, wishing she would look at me a moment longer. Behind that door I closed so heavily, leaving behind someone I half longed to hold, half forced myself to let go.


    I knew tomorrow might not be any different. She would still be cold, still keep her distance, maybe even reject me more harshly. But that didn’t scare me. Because every rejection meant one more chance to prove I wasn’t the same man I used to be.


    My car finally reached the main road. The night air swept across the windshield, carrying with it the mixed scents of the city-


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    smoke, street food, and the pulse of a life that never really slept. I drew in a long breath, dropped the cigarette into the ashtray, and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.


    Tonight I wasn’t going home with a victory. But I was going home with one small certainty: I had found the path again. The path back to Sienna. And though it might be long, winding, and full of thorns-I was ready to walk it.


    The house was quiet when I opened the door. The lights in the living room were already on, a sign that someone hade home earlier. Sure enough, not long after, I heard the sound of small footsteps running from inside.


    “Noah!” I called out, smiling wide.


    That little boy ran to me with the kind of smile that could melt my heart no matter how heavy my day had been. His small body leapt into my arms, and I immediately lifted him high.


    “Daddy’s home!” he said excitedly, his voice bright and full of joy. “Daddy took so long! I already drew three cars and one airne


    while waiting!”


    Iughed, ruffling his slightly long ck hair. “Sorry, Daddy’s little hero. But I brought you something.”


    “Snacks?!” His eyes widened in pure hope.


    I nodded, then pulled out a stic bag from the car and handed it to him. He took it as though he had just discovered treasure, his eyes shining as he saw the wafers and candies that had long been his favorites.


    “I love this! Daddy’s the best in the world!” he eximed, wrapping his arms tightly around my neck.


    I hugged him back, holding on to the warmth that spread through my chest. For moments like this, I came home. For that little face that always weed me without conditions.


    We sat on the sofa together, Noah quickly tearing open a packet of candy and chewing happily.


    “Today at school I drew Mommy,” he said suddenly.


    I turned to him, a little surprised. “You drew Mommy?”


    GET IT N…


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