That morning, I walked into the office expecting another ordinary day, but then I saw him — the man who ruined my life. My chest tightened, and the memories hit me hard. I couldn’t stay in the same room as him.
I woke up feeling suffocated, knowing I’d be late for work again. I dragged myself out of bed, grabbed the closest clothes, and headed downstairs. Sophie was already in the kitchen, cleaning up after me. The guilt hit me hard — she shouldn’t have to do this.
I offered breakfast, but she declined, saying her grandma would take her to school. She barely acknowledged me, and I couldn’t blame her. I stood frozen in front of the photo of Kira and Sophie, memories flooding back.
A message from my mom pulled me from my thoughts: Sophie has a debate tomorrow. It would be good if you came. I sighed and reluctantly replied that Sophie wouldn’t want me there, but my mom insisted. I grabbed my work bag and left.
At the office, I was greeted by Mr. Harris, who introduced me to Mark, the new hire. And then I saw him — the man who had destroyed my life. My chest tightened, and I lost control. I shouted at him to leave, but Mr. Harris stopped me. I stormed out, the memories overwhelming me.
That night, the memory of the crash hit me again. Kira’s lifeless body, the sirens, the flashing lights — it all rushed back. Mark stood nearby, handcuffed, a reminder of the night that changed everything.
The next day, I tried to focus on work, but Mark’s presence kept me on edge. A message from Mom reminded me of Sophie’s debate that night. I doubted she’d want me there, but Summer overheard and told me I still had a chance to fix things with Sophie.
Mark, surprisingly, offered to finish my work so I could go. He told me not to waste the chance to save my relationship with Sophie. I hesitated but finally left the office.
I arrived at the debate just in time, and when Sophie saw me, she smiled — a small but real smile. It was a moment of connection, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I might still be able to fix things.