235: Unspoken Bonds

In the quiet hours of the late afternoon, as shadows stretched across the cityscape, Alex found himself wrestling with a turmoil of emotions, exacerbated by the sight of Desmond's easy camaraderie with Emma. The past, with all its unspoken words and missed connections, seemed to converge in this single moment, challenging Alex to confront feelings long buried. As Alex stood, poised to enter the elevator, a flicker of movement caught his eye. It was Desmond, emerging from Emma's office, cups in hand—one unmistakably Emma’s. The sight ignited a flurry of thoughts in Alex's mind, memories of mornings shared over cups of coffee, of plans made and dreams discussed. Desmond, noticing Alex's gaze, couldn't resist the opportunity to needle him, a smirk playing on his lips. "She still prefers this cup, you know. Brought it all the way from your shared past to her present office. I suppose some things are hard to let go of." Alex, his heart a battleground of emotions, met Desmond's