From Shrimp Boy to Slapjack: System Activated

Beacon

The day stretched before me, a canvas waiting to be painted with the colours of apology. My steps felt lighter than they had in weeks, each one carrying me closer to Maggie's apartment building, a beacon of hope tinged with nervous anticipation. The sterile perfection of the penthouse seemed miles away, a relic of a life I no longer recognized.

Reaching her door, my hand hovered over the buzzer, a physical manifestation of the fear churning in my stomach. Finally, taking a deep breath, I pressed the button. The seconds that followed ticked by like the relentless metronome of a terrifying symphony.

Instead of Maggie's familiar voice, a gruff male voice filled the speaker. "Who is it?"

Confusion washed over me. "Uh… it's Ben Akoni," I stammered, my voice cracking under the pressure.

A long pause followed, filled with a tension that tightened the knot in my gut. Then, finally, "She's not here, and she doesn't want to see you."

The voice clicked off, leaving me staring at the silent speak