#Chapter 37: Late Again

Abby The once golden glow of the candles seems dull now. The shadows in the room stretch longer, a stark contrast to the beautifully set table, pristine and untouched. The wine, once poured with anticipation, sits still, a silent witness to my growing anxiety. The aroma of the truffle oil, once intoxicating, now only serves as a bitter reminder of the love I had poured into preparing for this evening. The clock on the wall seems to mock me with its relentless ticking, each second stretching into an eternity. My phone lays idle beside me, and the absence of a call or message from Adam weighs heavily on my heart. Trying to ward off the budding dread, I take a deep breath and dial his number. “Maybe he’s stuck in traffic or something,” I think to myself. “Or, god forbid, he got into an accident.” After dialing his number, I hold my phone up to my ear with a shaky hand. The soft hum of the ringtone echoes in the silence. After what feels like a lifetime, he a