HIS WIFE, MY HEART

meant to be anothe

star rooftop restaurant in the city. The kind of place that had soft lightning

ents. The handshakes, the subtle hierarchy of seatin

id, clapping Elijah on the back like a father p

and got to the venue on time, as he had already told him

what he didn't expect, was

fi

wn that caught the attention of everyone. She had a beau

n their eyes met, then she

es down, Close enough to

ke small snacks. Mark basked in the attention. He talked deeply about projections, growth, and new pa

into her glass, continued

ijah s

The way she kept adjusting the edge of her napkin. The way

s perf

hurts t

-

omeone steered the conversa

, "is like running a company, you either sca

wed, some real

ecret is letting your wife believe she's in charg

s more l

didn't

her. "What's you

ed. "Silenc

es, but Elijah didn't

s glass. "To s

didn't l

Elijah's across the ta

d, everything aro

it was

, that invi

ither of the

ked awa

-

stepped out to have some air. H

't need

n the crowd reduces" Sofi

in there," he sai

njoy things like this-the fun, the discussi

at her, "

hesi

eeling like a n

ully toward her

e tapped her temple. "

stillness

eneath them, Laug

t you," Elijah said quietly.

t him, "You

the t

re dating, he used to listen to everything I said like it was a scr

ah said before he

blin

looked tired, not from

w," sh

mission cracked so

e between them smaller than ever, yet st

erythin

ack in," she s

ded, "

, "You looked good to

art sk

oo," h

walked back inside, into the noi

ring how long a man could stand on a line bef