ft hum of conversation and the faint notes of jazz playing in the background. The café's charm was in its simplicity-worn wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and walls adorned with

d into his cup, the milk foam swirling like an uncharted galaxy. The events of the morning replayed in his mind. The Nexus Grid project had hit another snag-a critical glitch that demanded

ays: vague and noncommittal. The guilt lingered, a dull

Is tha

one of the few people he truly admired. Mira's presence was as grounding as it was unexpected.

rs," Leo exclaimed,

s she gestured to the empty

anor a stark contrast to Leo's tightly wound energy. As Mira s

e weight of Veridian City on his s

mes. Work has been relentless. The Nexus Grid is a be

t me guess-long hours, endless emails, and the creepin

a leaned back, her gaze steady but k

demands of his career, the guilt of missed family moments, and the gnawing fear of falling short in both sp

the silence between them. Mira took a sip of tea b

s consumed by work, chasing accolades and milestones, thinking they'd fill a void I couldn't qu

furrowed. "

broken promises, my half-presence at home. My son stopped asking if I'd come to his games because he already knew

reaking point came when I missed my son's school play. He didn't say anything, but I

o asked, his voice ba

ish; it's about who you share it with. So, I started setting boundaries. I learned to delegate, to say no when it mattered, a

Mira's story and his own were undeniab

ck time for your priorities, and don't compromise on them. Communicate openly with your team and your fami

book. Scribbling a few titles, she handed the paper to Leo. "These are books and apps

x of gratitude and resolve. "Thank you, Mira.

stronger than you think, Leo. And remember, it's never

he curtains, casting long shadows on the walls. Nexus's drawing of their family, with its blurred father figure,

each. Mira's words replayed in his mind: Success isn't just

perfect, but it was a start. As he wrote, a sense of clarity began to take shape, like the first rays of dawn breaking thr