Fault Lines of the Heart

I froze as the land survey map unfurled, revealing a devastating error. A property boundary

line was slicing right through the middle of our town’s oldest park—the place where I spent

every summer of my childhood. But the shock of the map was nothing compared to the

man walking through the door. It was Ethan, my high school sweetheart turned City Inspector.

We hadn't spoken since our graduation night, but now, a municipal mishap

forced us into this cramped office. We were the only two people authorized to sign off on a

correction before the demolition crew arrived at dawn. The air was thick with the weight

of everything we never said. Every time our hands brushed while tracing the legal codes,