Ian stared at the railing blankly. Instead of the busy road, the balcony faced a nice park behind the townhouse, but his mind was so out of it that he couldn't enjoy the blooming flowers. He couldn't enjoy the one on the balcony, cared for by a highly paid gardener.
He felt pathetic, really. He knew this time would come; he kept reminding himself that Robert would have to stop being his bodyguard someday, but...when was it? When did he stop reminding himself? When he got too comfortable spending time together? When he decided to live in a bubble as if things would never change?
To be fair, even Ian didn't expect he would react in this way. He knew he would be sad, that the loss would be significant—but to straight up freeze and struggle to speak?
He thought he had changed. He thought he had become braver. Was he really nothing without someone by his side?
"It's still a little chilly in the afternoon, so please drink this."
