Page 49 of Back to You

Ethan sat at his desk, ignoring the work piling up. What was the point of it, anyway? He’d ruined his life for this place, and all he could wonder was why?

“Baby, are you okay?” Nia leaned against the open door. “You don’t look so good.”

He knew he didn’t look great, he just didn’t care. His hair was a wreck, his suit was disheveled, and his face was a testament to the ravages a weekend of crying could wreak.

“Brandon left me,” he whispered, almost as though saying it too loud would make it even truer than it was.

“What?!”

“He got sick of how much I was working.”

“Oh baby,” Nia sighed, coming around the desk to give him a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

Ethan soaked up the comfort, desperately needing it.

“You shouldn’t be here today.”

“I can’t be at home. It’s just a reminder of everything. At least here I can try to distract myself.”

“How is that working out for you?” Nia said, glancing pointedly at the mess on his desk.

“Not great.”

Nia sat down in the chair next to his desk. “When did this happen?”

“Saturday morning.”

“Have you talked to him since then?”

“No, he asked me to leave him alone for a while.”

“That’s probably for the best, for both of you.” Nia put her hand on top of his. “I’m just as sorry as I can be, Ethan. I know how much you love him.”

Ethan buried his face in his hands for a moment. “Yeah.”

Nia patted him on the back in sympathy. “You should go home. I’ll make your excuses to your boss.”

Ethan pulled himself upright again. “No, but thank you. I need to work.” He turned to the mess of files and paper on his desk. “It’s really all I have anymore, isn’t it?”

Nia shook her head. “Please don’t use this as a sign to work more.”

Ethan just smiled sadly. “It’s all I have left, Nia. I worked hard for this, and for what? It’s the only thing in my life now. Might as well just embrace it.”

He opened a file, and heard Nia curse softly under her breath as she headed for the door.

“It doesn’t have to be the only thing, Ethan,” she said. “You can still turn this around. You just have to try.” With that, she left his office.

***

Ethan returned home late that night to a frantic Barnabus. “I’m so sorry, buddy, here, let me feed you.”

Barnabus gave him a wounded look before falling on the food like he was starving. “I did feed you this morning, I know I did.”

Ethan changed out of his suit and fell listlessly on the couch. Nothing sounded appealing, not food or drink or stupid movies. He felt the soft thump as Barnabus jumped up on the couch next to him and stopped to regard the cat.

“Do you miss your daddy?” he said.

Barnabus butted his head into Ethan’s hand. It was unusual for the cat, who was decidedly more Brandon’s than his. Brandon had adopted the cat years ago, before he’d even met Ethan. This must be hard for the little guy.

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