Job over me

Tim had made mistakes in the past, but when I disappeared, he didn't realize how much he'd lost-how much he'd hurt me.

Now, here I was, at a new station, trying to start over. I was just walking down the hallway when I bumped into someone. I muttered, "Sorry," and kept going-but something about him felt familiar. as I turned slightly to watch him disappear into an office. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dirty blond hair, and there was a tiredness in his eyes that wasn't from lack of sleep but from carrying something heavier.

I tried to shake it off and went to the break room.

The day passed by quickly, and when I finally got home, I froze. One of my boys was on the ground-Alex, sprawled across the floor. My heart stopped.

And then I saw him. Tim. Right there, next to me.

Everything hit at once: the fear, the confusion, the years we'd lost, and the realization that he was here now, in my life again. My chest tightened, and I felt my knees weaken.

What was I supposed to do now? How could I protect my boys, keep them safe, and face him at the same time? My mind raced, my heart pounded, and I couldn't catch a single coherent thought. Everything was overwhelming, and I had no idea how to handle it.