Rising from the ashes

im. He had spent years drowning in the constant noise of work-emails, meetings, d

d, but one conversation wasn't enough to undo year

fee table. He picked it up

the shop tomorr

adn't agreed to anything yet. What

ght of Emma-the way she had hesitated before agreeing to th

econd chance, maybe he co

typed back a s

I'll b

-

ext M

tucked between a bakery and a bookstore. The si

nd varnish filled the air. Wooden furniture lined t

sanding down a chair leg. H

u'd show," Alex

Figured I had noth

"Good. Then g

ted. "You wan

na sit around and talk about life? Sometimes, the best way

ped forward, taking th

ith wood befor

Nathan muttered. "Balance sheets

paper. "Well, today, you're wor

front of him. He had no idea what he was do

-

our

repetitive motion. He had spent the last hour sanding the

intless," h

t's patience. Somethi

andpaper down. "What is this

asing quick wins. Fast deals. High rewards. But some things t

, this is supposed to be

. "Something

ain. He didn't fully understand why he was here, but

-

That E

, he didn't feel as restless. His hands ached, h

is phone. No em

tion popped up.

yesterday. Maybe we c

the message, a sm

t rushing to the finish line. Maybe it was about s

back a

I'd lo

, he felt something he h

o

-

Chapt