Still Choosing You
Book 1 Chapter 4 — Scene 3: VERY LATE
The key turned in the lock at nine twenty-eight.
Emma looked up from the sofa.
The television was on.
She wasn't really watching it.
The volume remained low.
A program played in the background while she scrolled through her phone.
The sound of the door opening pulled her attention away immediately.
Daniel stepped inside.
For a second, he simply stood there.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
As though arriving home required more effort than usual.
Then he closed the door behind him.
"Hey."
His voice sounded rough.
Emma sat up slightly.
"You're really late."
Again, there was no accusation.
Only surprise.
Daniel nodded once.
"Sorry."
He slipped off his shoes slowly.
The movement lacked its usual rhythm.
Everything about him seemed slower tonight.
His shoulders sagged.
His shirt was slightly wrinkled.
Dark circles sat beneath his eyes.
Emma noticed them immediately.
"Tough day?"
Daniel gave a tired laugh.
"A bit."
A bit.
The answer sounded automatic.
Like he had already repeated it several times to other people.
He set down his bag.
The bag landed more heavily than usual.
Then he loosened his tie.
Not dramatically.
Just with the quiet relief of someone finally reaching the end of a long day.
"Dinner's in the kitchen."
Daniel nodded.
"Thanks."
He walked toward the dining table.
The apartment remained quiet around them.
No rush.
No urgency.
Only the familiar sounds of evening settling into the rooms.
Emma followed a few moments later.
The food had been covered to keep it warm.
Not hot anymore.
Warm.
Daniel pulled out a chair and sat down.
For a second, he stared at the table.
Not at the food.
At nothing in particular.
Emma stood near the kitchen entrance.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
Daniel rubbed his face once.
Then reached for his bowl.
The movement stopped halfway.
He looked down at the table.
His eyes remained there longer than necessary.
Emma watched him.
Something about him felt different tonight.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like his mind was still somewhere else.
"You don't look okay."
Daniel let out a breath.
Not a sigh.
Something quieter.
Just tired.
"Long day."
This time the words sounded more honest.
Emma sat down across from him.
Daniel picked up his chopsticks.
Then set them down again.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Only heavy.
Eventually Emma asked,
"Still because of the new reporting?"
Daniel nodded.
"Mostly."
"That much work?"
"More than I expected."
His eyes drifted briefly toward the kitchen window.
Then back to the table.
Emma waited.
Leaving room for more.
Daniel seemed to consider saying something else.
Then didn't.
Instead, he reached for the food.
A few bites disappeared without much attention.
Not because he wasn't hungry.
Because he was distracted.
His thoughts remained elsewhere.
Emma noticed how slowly he ate.
How often he stopped.
How often he stared at nothing.
The television continued playing faintly from the living room.
Neither paid attention to it.
After several minutes, Daniel leaned back slightly.
His eyes closed for a moment.
Only a moment.
But long enough for Emma to see how exhausted he was.
"You should sleep early tonight."
Daniel gave a small smile.
"Maybe."
The answer sounded uncertain.
As though he already knew sleep wasn't the next thing waiting for him.
Emma looked at him carefully.
He wasn't complaining.
Wasn't angry.
Wasn't frustrated.
Just tired.
Very tired.
The kind of tired that settled deeper than a single day.
Daniel opened his eyes again.
Forcing his attention back toward the table.
Back toward dinner.
Back toward home.
But even sitting across from him, Emma had the strange feeling that part of him was still in the office.
Still staring at reports.
Still reading emails.
Still trying to finish work that refused to stay finished.
For the first time, she wondered how long this would last.
Daniel picked up his chopsticks again.
The food was no longer warm.
Neither of them mentioned it.
Outside, the city continued moving through the night.
Inside, dinner happened later than it should have.
And Daniel looked more exhausted than Emma had ever seen him.
Scene-by-scene release. Continue only when the next scene is ready.