*Shelby*

When Michael finally emerged from his office, he shuffled toward me in the kitchen with a strained expression on his face. He looked completely exhausted like he hadn't slept in days.

His eyes were glassy and heavy-lidded with dark circles underneath them. We stared at each other in wordless, aching silence, as if there was an invisible wall neither of us could breach. After what felt like an eternity, Michael was the first to break the ...