ah. This was big news. This was something he, as a tech entrepreneur, would have to respec

cing back and forth, but he waved her in impatiently. She waited unti

ge deal," he said, not even looking at

p her voice steady. "My game... it's a fina

r of something unreadable in h

ment. "It's more than nice, Noah! It's a huge deal! If

t's just a nomination. Don't get ahead of yourself." His tone was dismissive, as if her biggest professi

ony is next Friday," she said, her voice smal

und of annoyance. "Ava, I'm reall

again. She bought a new dress, a simple but elegant blue one, hoping

rrounded by other developers and their proud families and partners. She kept c

presenter was walking to the podium to announce the nominee

ped. "Noah? A

as clearly drunk. "I'm at the Viper Club. My car's here, but I'm

list of nominated games. She heard "Echoes of Starlight" and

spered. "They're announc

re important, some stupid little award or me getti

lope. The whole room was silent with anticipation. Her dream was a few

For three years, the an

chair back and walked quickly toward the exit, her new dress

the lobby, she heard the presenter's

Narrative is... Ava Chen

t Ava was already outside, hailing a cab, the

he frosted glass door of the private room he had texted her about. She could hear lo

face flushed with alcohol and triumph. He was tal

'd come. She could be winning a Nobel Prize and if I called, she'd drop

body turning to ice. The award she had just sacrificed meant nothing to him. H