Chapter 1: Introduction
Sarah's day was usually a well-oiled machine of productivity and contentment. She loved her routine—the morning coffee, the breakfast kiss from Michael, the hum of her laptop as she worked from home, and the anticipation of his evening embrace. Their life together was a symphony of comfortable habits and shared dreams. They were two halves of a whole, and she couldn't imagine it any other way.
As she typed away at her desk, the sound of running water caught her attention. She twisted in her chair, following the sound to the kitchen. A steady drip, drip, drip echoed from the sink.