The Sin

Chapter Ten

Ben slumped in front of his flickering laptop, the soft whir of the fan the only sound in the dim room. He stared at the screen, his heart racing as he clicked through the footage from his bike cam. The images replayed in agonizing detail-the moment the world turned sideways, the sickening crunch, the shouts, the silence that followed. Each frame was a dagger, twisting deeper into his guilt.

"Damn it," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His fingers trembled as he paused the video, the scene frozen: Ivy, sprawled on the road, eyes wide with shock. The memory of her anguished cry echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of his recklessness. *Thud!*

"Why didn't I stop?" he whispered, guilt clawing at him. He leaned forward, the glow of the screen illuminating the dark circles under his eyes. A wave of nausea washed over him. He had been so caught up in the thrill, the rush of speed, that he hadn't considered the consequences.

Ben, haunted by guilt, relives the accident in agonizing detail, understanding for the first time the impact of his actions. This moment of clarity forces him to confront his culpability. He decides to reach out to Ivy, hoping to apologize and take responsibility. His phone buzzed on the table, breaking his trance. He picked it up, hesitating as he scrolled through Ivy's number. Would she even want to hear from him? The thought of her anger made his stomach twist. Suddenly, images of Dash popped into his mind-his friend's warm smile, the way he always sought to help others. "I can't let Dash down," Ben thought, determination seeping in.

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Meanwhile at the restaurant....

The clatter of dishes faded as Dash stepped out of the bustling restaurant. He scanned the parking lot, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ivy. She was always the last to leave, caught up in conversations with the other waitresses. He spotted her by the entrance, laughter spilling from her lips as she shared a joke with Alice, one of the part-timers.

"Hey, Ivy!" Dash called out, weaving through the restaurant. He couldn't shake the weight of the truth he was holding back-the nagging doubt about Ben. Should he tell her? What if it was just a misunderstanding?

Ivy turned, her warm brown eyes lighting up at the sight of him. "Dash! You're still here?" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her bag hanging loosely in her other hand.

"Yeah, I was just... hoping to see you before you left," he said, trying to sound casual. "Can I walk you home?"

She hesitated, glancing back at her friends. "I don't want to hold you up. You probably have better things to do."

"Not really," he replied, his heart racing. "I'd just feel better knowing you made it home safely."

Ivy bit her lip, weighing his sincerity. "Okay, but no bike. I'll walk, but I'm not riding with you." A smile broke across Dash's face. "Deal."

They fell into step alongside each other, the streetlights flickering to life as the sun dipped below the horizon. The evening air was cool, but a warmth lingered between them as they chatted about mundane things-the latest gossip from work, the new menu items, and the upcoming staff party. Suddenly, Ivy's phone buzzed violently against her thigh, breaking their light-hearted banter. She fished it out of her pocket, her expression shifting from relaxed to puzzled.

"What is it?" Dash asked, concern creeping into his voice.
"It's from Ben," Ivy murmured, her eyes wide as she read the message. "He wants to meet up. Says he needs to explain."