Kasteil groaned, massaging the bridge of his nose. The pressure behind his eyes had been building for hours, a dull ache that wouldn't go away no matter how much he rubbed. He didn't bother going home last night because he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. The bed was too empty without Holland beside him. The house was too quiet. Every corner held a memory of Holland's smile, Holland's laugh, Holland's voice. Why not drown himself in work? At least work kept his hands busy, even if his mind wandered.
He couldn't stop thinking about Holland but also couldn't contact him. What if Holland got even more angry? And Holland asked for space. The most stupid thing you can do as one's partner is to not listen to your partner. He had learned that lesson the hard way. Pushing would only make things worse. He had to wait. He had to be patient.
