StorylineSpectrum

Joss Butler lay sprawled across his snug double bed, the comforter pulled haphazardly to one side as if it too were reluctantly surrendering to the depths of a winter’s night. Outside his window, swirling gusts of wind threatened to rattle the precise assembly of his London flat, but he was content—delighted even—surrounded by the hum of his favorite music. A layer of snow blanketed the city, transforming the bustling streets into a hushed realm where only the sound of frost crunching beneath boots punctuated the stillness. Through his wire headphones, a soothing melody floated like a wisp of smoke, curling through his thoughts, coaxing away the residue of another exhausting week in the cutthroat world of finance. He sold beverage distribution deals to retailers, his sharp mind navigating the labyrinth of figures while his heart remained aloof, untroubled. Not lonely, really—he had friends, his best friend, Katrina, in particular, whom he could lean on when the weight of existence felt...