Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter LXXVI - Bridging the Chasm

The rain slid down the tall windows in slow, glistening trails, distorting the view of Christmas lights strung across the streets below. The cold seemed to seep in, curling around the edges of the office filled with the usual steady rhythm of work. But still, something felt... off. Like a thread had come loose somewhere, not enough to notice at first, but just enough to unsettle as if a sound was missing from the background. A presence gone quiet.

Emails stacked faster than he could clear them, case files sprawled across the desk in organised piles that never seemed to shrink. His phone buzzed at intervals too frequent to ignore, each message another request, another crisis, another deadline brought forward. Meetings blurred into one another, court prep bled into late nights, and lunch breaks became something other people took. There was no room to stop, not when everything demanded more. And so he didn't.

Sean had just finished a call with a human rights organisation in Thailand when another came through - a junior colleague from the pro bono clinic asking for guidance on a case involving asylum rights. He took the call standing, one hand flicking through a document on judicial reviews while his laptop chimed with an update from a campaign group he worked with here, lobbying against discriminatory housing policies. Somewhere between it all, Sean made a mental note to finally call Izzy.

He was still on the phone when Rebecca knocked and stepped in, holding a paper bag from the Vietnamese restaurant. She paused just inside the door, eyebrows raised with the familiar look she wore whenever he forgot lunch.

Sean gave her an apologetic smile and gestured for her to leave it on the desk, but she only shook her head and walked over, already beginning to unpack it. It was a small favour Jay had asked months ago, knowing how easily Sean forgot about meals when he was swamped with work. In return, the administration department enjoyed the best desserts London could offer.

She poured the broth into the bowl of noodles with neatly arranged toppings. Instantly, a deep, savoury blend of lemongrass, garlic, and a sharp kick of chilli filled the office. Thin slices of tender beef floated on top, their edges curling slightly from the heat, while fresh herbs and a hint of lime lingered beneath the surface. The dish was vibrant, alive with colour and flavour, its heat inviting and formidable. It looked like something meant to be savoured slowly, but she knew Sean would hardly have time to appreciate it before diving back into his ever-present mountain of work.

Sean's gaze rested on the bowl with bún bò Huế, and the voice on the other side faded as faint unease settled on the back of his mind. When was the last time he had lunch or dinner with Jay? When did their once-constant moments together fade into the background, only to vanish somewhere between everything else?

"-Sean? You still there?"

The voice on the line pulled him back, and his focus snapped to the call. He gestured to Rebecca in silent thanks while answering his junior's question. By the time Sean finished, the food was lukewarm and much less appetising, but he was used to it. At least he had time to eat it.

Fully utilising this rare break, Sean finally made a video call to Izzy. He braced himself for the inevitable telling-off as it had been over a month since they last spoke, far too long for someone who used to call twice a week, but before Izzy could get a word in, a small figure popped into the frame.

"Uncle Jay!" Lizzy chirped happily, climbing on Izzy's lap. Then, she looked at the screen, and her excitement faltered, lips pressing into a pout. "Oh. It's just Uncle Sean."

Sean blinked, caught off guard. "Just?"

She crossed her arms, clearly upset with him. "You forgot about me, so I don't like you anymore."