Dax knew it would take the assignment more than a month but he had expected it would be an additional week or less. Not three. Sana had expected him to come back in the beginning of December so they could pack their shit and move away before the Christmas fever hit the town. She’d taken care of all the arrangements without his help, planned everything to the T and then he’d gone and messed it up by not showing up. Guilt held him like a vice despite Sana saying it was okay.

He had already been worried that she was overworking herself. Her voice didn’t sound like it used to. It had lost a bit of warmth and hope, replaced by something blue. He had wondered: was it weariness of having to put up with him? From having to do it on her own despite having him? Or was it a lack of interest? Did he lose her? As every second ticked, his thoughts became darker and hopeless. Like the ones he used to have before he met Sana. He tried to shake them away but he could feel them pulling him under.