Part 4/9:
He sat there, numb and contemplative, recognizing how Lorraine had transformed into someone distant. Each indication of her withdrawal, every evasive text, and every missed connection weighed heavily on him. He mused over the fragmented ideals of love he had held on to, questioning the essence of their union.
A Defining Choice
In that moment, a decision crystallized within him. Rather than return home and continue the exhausting cycle of waiting and hoping, he would embrace uncertainty. A motel was his destination: not merely a physical refuge but the symbolic first step toward self-preservation.