Another woman entered, mocha skin, elegant, radiant. She carried a kind of warmth that diffused tension before it even had time to rise. “Hi, I’m Ayana,” she said. “Just started today. The boss told me to introduce myself to everyone.” “Tony.” He stood by the window, watching her reflection. It glowed, soft, inviting. He turned […]
Still morning. Atlanta, Georgia. Tony slammed his car door shut and exhaled hard. His body tensed with every step he took toward the building. The sun lit the glass doors in gold, defying the weight he carried inside. He paused, breathed again, then entered. The hallway buzzed with fluorescent light and hollow greetings. “Morning, Tony.” […]
Morning.The sun barely peeked through the blinds in Tony’s bedroom. He lay there, exhausted, his body stressed beyond comfort, jaw clenched, teeth grinding. He exhaled. Slow, sharp, menacing. “Fuck. This. Shit. Today.” His phone blared in the background, obnoxious and unrelenting. He rolled out of bed one foot at a time. Left. Right. Avoiding the […]