The past never stays buried; it just waits for the right moment to surface.
This chapter finds Michael in a steady place — well past the breakup and simply hoping for an honest conversation that offer a little closure or even renew old friendships. Meanwhile, Mitsy and Hanna gleefully torment him about his tragically nonexistent love life — self-appointed “Love Doctors” with zero restraint and far too much enthusiasm — reminding him that his world didn’t stop after everything that happened.
He looks forward to the Serbia trip not with fear, but with the hope that it will be a happy stretch of days spent with people he cares about. At the same time, the chapter reminds us that old adversaries aren’t idle and that new danger is quietly taking shape. It’s the last calm breath before the next turn in the story.
In addition to nuclearstranger continuing his excellent editing work, I’ve now added dookie to the process as well. He brings a great eye for local color and continuity, and together they’re helping shape the text into something sharper and more polished than I could produce alone. I’m genuinely grateful for their time and generosity.
With their support, and with SOL 17 about to go live, we’re a third of the way through the story — and the biggest arcs are still ahead.
--CCTW
p.s., additional portraits in the story