After what felt like an eternity of strategizing and counter-strategizing, Alex and I finally called it a day. The sun had long set, and the office was bathed in the soft glow of the evening lights. As we stepped out into the crisp night air, Alex, ever the gentleman, insisted on walking me home.

The streets of Willowbrook were quiet, almost reflective. Our walk was comfortable but charged with an undercurrent of something more, something neither of us seemed ready to ...