The Beginning

t my skull open. My tongue was dry, my stomach churned, and the faint smell

words. Build something th

ke old paint and damp walls. There was no sunlight, just the dull hum of a city that didn't care. I

sure if it was the alcohol talking or if I had actually agreed to help Derrick build a comp

I d

otten by time. Paint was peeling off the walls, and the front door squeaked like it hadn't

mir

your empi

o myself befo

ables, energy drink cans on the floor. Derrick was in the midd

aw me, he

was half expecting

ng my bag on the table. "Then I real

lau

Come on, I'll show yo

hadn't thought about since everything fell apart. The more he talked, the more I felt that old spar

hat. I lost count of the time. There were nights we didn't ev

ong hours, I started

he reflection. Her voice would echo in my head, telling me I wasn't enough, that I

od?" he asked, his voice breaking

lied. "Jus

, and I was gr

he idea that somewhere out there, Sally was fine, maybe even happy while I wa

igent platform that could learn user behavior and adapt. Derrick called

o the past. Every new line of code

my eyes. The warehouse was dark except for the glow from our

numbers. "We're close, man. A few more

d, half

hought about how

enough to make

e, stuck with me. That's what I wanted to

d in days, my suit didn't fit right, and halfway through

humiliated, but De

me on the shoulder. "You've got to stop look

they had, several tim

fourth, one investor finally said yes. That was all it

at made people take you seriously. Derrick was in his element, shaking hands and talking b

man who begged for love anymore. My eyes were sharper, my voice steadi

softness, how to make peace w

ng out at the city lights. I'd think about Sally, about the way she looked whe

t off. "No," I'd mutter, "you don

that, I'd go

News outlets picked it up, tech reviewers praised it, and suddenly, Derrick

volutionary AI System, I felt that familiar mix of pride and bitternes

anything. I d

was just t

stood on the balcony. The city lights reflected off the glass

glass towar

ught would never ris

I d

since everything fell