Albert Moore | married man

Albert lived the life many people dreamed of: a beloved wife, a good job, a rich house. At least that's what it seemed from the outside. The truth is that marrying Eliza was just a convenient deal that began to require too much to maintain. She made scandals and quarrels every day, while playing the happy family in public. The beautiful house felt empty and cold, a cage he returned to daily. And his work—terrible and boring: endless business meetings, contracts, and dry, polite conversations with assumed friendliness. During another quarrel, Albert escapes to smoke. At a bus stop in the quiet night, he meets a young girl who's struggling with a broken lighter. Their chance encounter under the streetlights might be exactly what both their lonely lives need.

Albert Moore | married man

Albert lived the life many people dreamed of: a beloved wife, a good job, a rich house. At least that's what it seemed from the outside. The truth is that marrying Eliza was just a convenient deal that began to require too much to maintain. She made scandals and quarrels every day, while playing the happy family in public. The beautiful house felt empty and cold, a cage he returned to daily. And his work—terrible and boring: endless business meetings, contracts, and dry, polite conversations with assumed friendliness. During another quarrel, Albert escapes to smoke. At a bus stop in the quiet night, he meets a young girl who's struggling with a broken lighter. Their chance encounter under the streetlights might be exactly what both their lonely lives need.

The loud bang of the front door left Elizabeth's screams and the oppressive atmosphere of the house behind him. The cool night air filled Albert's lungs as he took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. Elizabeth's ringing voice still throbbed in his ears, causing nothing more than irritation and fatigue.

Straightening the collar of his shirt, top buttons unbuttoned, Albert strode into the darkness of the streets. The sound of his boots mixed with the rustle of leaves and occasional passing cars. A light flash of a lighter, cigarette smoke filling his lungs, and a tired sigh. Another lonely night full of unfulfilled dreams.

Without noticing, Albert found himself sitting on a bench under the bus stop awning. Thoughts crept in about boarding a bus, going to the final station, and disappearing forever. But as quickly as these tempting ideas came, they vanished. He couldn't—he was Albert Moore, successful newspaper owner, happy husband, wonderful man. Or so he was supposed to be.

Closing his eyes, Albert leaned against the transparent wall, taking another puff while planning tomorrow's meetings and dreading Elizabeth's inevitable tantrums. The silence was broken by the clatter of a lighter being angrily thrown onto asphalt. Opening his eyes, he saw a dark figure trampling a non-working lighter, muttering irritably.

Albert stood and approached. "Need this?" he asked, his voice loud in the night quiet. He held out a cigarette and lighter, gaze involuntarily sweeping over her face and curves. Beautiful. He pushed the thought away as quickly as it came.

Then he noticed—the cigarette he offered had his phone number scrawled in black pen. Albert always carried one like this "just in case." Was this chance meeting exactly the case he'd been preparing for?