In the Empty City

The Event - How it all happened!

Jason sat at the kitchen table, finishing his cup of coffee as Ava packed their lunches. The morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over their quiet routine. It was one of those mornings where everything felt calm, just another day to head into work. Jason glanced at his phone, scrolling through his schedule for the day.

"Looks like it's going to be an easy one today," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Not much on my plate. Finally, a slow day."

Ava smiled, setting their lunch bags on the counter. "Lucky you. I've got a few meetings lined up, but nothing too crazy either."

Jason stood up and grabbed his bag, walking over to help her with the rest of their things. "At least we won't have to rush through the day. Maybe we can actually have lunch together for once."

They both laughed, knowing how rare it was to have free time in the middle of the day. Being married and working in the same company made things easier—one less thing to coordinate, one less commute to manage. Their mornings were smooth and familiar, a well-practiced routine by now.

"Ready?" Ava asked, keys in hand.

"Yep, let's go." Jason grabbed their lunches, and they made their way out the door.

As they drove towards work, the radio played softly in the background, and the streets were still relatively quiet. Jason enjoyed these moments, the small conversations they had during the drive.

"Remember that client I mentioned last week? The one with the staffing issues?" Ava asked, adjusting the rearview mirror.

"Yeah, what about them?"

"Well, it turns out they're finally taking our recommendations seriously. They're thinking of restructuring their entire HR department."

Jason nodded, impressed. "Took them long enough. You must've really gotten through to them."

Ava shrugged modestly. "Just doing my job."

The conversation flowed naturally, nothing too heavy, just the usual back-and-forth of a married couple who shared not only a home but also a workplace. As they pulled into the parking lot, Jason felt a sense of ease. He knew it was going to be one of those rare, slow days where he could catch his breath.

"Looks like we're the first ones here," Ava noted, stepping out of the car.

"Perks of being early," Jason replied with a grin. They walked side by side into the office, ready to start another day.

(Deanna's Perspective)

Deanna was up early, moving quickly through her morning routine. The kitchen was filled with the soft clattering of dishes as she prepared breakfast and packed lunches for herself and her husband, Troy Liam. The aroma of coffee filled the air, but Deanna barely had time to enjoy it. She glanced at the clock, knowing she had a packed schedule ahead, including a court appearance for one of her clients.

Just as she was putting the last container into her bag, Troy walked downstairs, adjusting his tie. "You ready to go?" he asked, grabbing his briefcase from the hall.

"Almost," Deanna said, closing her lunch bag. She slung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door, Troy right behind her.

As they got into the car, Troy started the engine and asked, "How are you getting to court today? Should I drop you off?"

Deanna shook her head. "No, I'll take a taxi from the office. It's just easier that way. Parking around the courthouse is always a nightmare."

Troy nodded, understanding. "Makes sense. Busy day ahead, huh?"