Chapter 10 - Full Circle
The black sedan pulled up to the curb outside the penthouse apartment just as the sun began to dip below the Chicago skyline, painting the clouds in shades of amber, violet, and gold.
Daniel stepped out of the car first, holding the door for Sophie, who bounded up the steps with a laughing ice cream cone in hand. Maya followed close behind, breathing in the warm summer air.
As they walked into the spacious, light-filled penthouse, Daniel paused by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He looked out over the sprawling city, watching the lights begin to twinkle across the lake and the distant streets.
There was a time when he believed that life could only be managed through rigid schedules, locked doors, and impenetrable walls. He had believed that keeping control was the only way to survive the pain of loss.
He glanced back into the kitchen.
May you like
Sophie was sitting at the marble island, excitedly explaining a drawing to Maya, while Maya laughed—that bright, infectious laugh that had first broken through his armor on a cold October afternoon.
Daniel smiled, stepping away from the window. He didn't check his watch. He didn't need to. For the first time in his life, he wasn't waiting for tomorrow. He was right where he belonged.
