NATHAN

This week has been terribly long, but Friday is finally here. We are feeling the impact of Elvam not being at the studio. Zack, Kaley, and David decided to hire a freelance designer from a contingency budget David keeps to help us. Besides my own projects, I took some ad design to help Zack and we've been staying working late every day to cope. We've even forced Kaley to take breaks every couple of hours, sitting and working for long periods can't be good for her babies.

David has been running a tight planning until he finds someone to help us and is also making sure we are fed and come home safe in the evenings. His kindness knows no limits. Thanks to him I now have a comfortable payment plan for my mother's debt and a sample contract for my future tenants. Last Sunday, we met at his house, and he spent a few hours helping me to work a budget for my personal expenses and to contribute to Owen's house budget. I would never feel comfortable living there for free, especially when he has a daughter to support and a new family member coming soon.

Right when I'm gathering my stuff to call it a day, I look at Owen, who's typing furiously.

"What are you doing?"

"I got text to populate a website, and the client sent a non-editable document that is password protected, so I can't copy a thing. I've been trying to call them, but can't get hold of my contact person; left messages and everything. The deliverables are due on Monday, and I want to have a free weekend for a change and go to a game."

His phone buzzes on the desk and he stops typing to read the message.

"Fucking hell, Ciara. Why now?" He throws the phone back on the desk and rubs his face.

"What she said?"

"She forgot her lab forms at the doctor's office. I can't stop what I'm doing to pick up a fucking paper that she probably knew she left behind since her last visit. I'm already behind schedule as it is."

"If you think they'll give it to me, I can pick it up on my way home."

"Thanks, man. That will help me a lot. If there are any problems, have them call me," he gives me a grateful smile and goes back to typing.

After saying goodbye to the rest, I grab my backpack and head to the obstetrician's office. The moment I enter, the pregnant women and posters of newborn babies make me feel awkward.

"Hello. I'm here to pick some lab forms for Ciara McKay," I say to the assistant.

"Are you her partner?"

"Oh, no! I'm her... Uncle. My name's Nathan Larsen."

"Give me a sec," she shuffles a stack of papers, then looks through a pack of envelopes inside a drawer. "I can't find it. Let me check in the doctor's office."

To pass time and to ignore the stares of the people in the waiting room, I look at the floor and count the little stars on the tiles.

"Nathan?" I hear a voice say behind me.

When I turn around, I find the woman whose profile photos I have seen many times. Wavy black hair, almond-shaped brown eyes on a beautifully tanned skin... Zara.

"You are Nathan Larsen, right?"

"Yes, and you are Zara. I mean... The real Zara."

"I have a lot to explain. Do you have a moment?" She asks with hope in her face.

"You sure do."
Zara opens the door next to the reception and I follow her to a small office plastered with pregnancy medical posters and many baby announcement cards.

"Please have a seat. I'm so sorry about our date. That night, I was getting ready for our date when a colleague called that she had the flu and one of her patients went into labor. My friend Louise was at my house at that moment and offered to take my place during the date. I didn't want to cancel on you on such short notice."

"I see... Well, that date was a disaster," I laugh.

"Oh, really? Louise was smitten. She was quite disappointed you didn't hint her on a follow up date," she laughs as well.

"I knew something didn't make sense from the moment she entered the room. You two look alike, but your face is rounder and your eyes darker. When she spoke, her voice sounded different from yours. She was, of course, clueless about things we talked over the phone. And what's with her and dieting?"

"I know! She has this incredible body and seems to be on an eternal diet! I love eating. Wake me up for rice and beans any time. I don't know what the hell she finds so wrong with that."

And that's what got me hooked on her since the first time we spoke. She's genuine and easy going.

"She's missing out on a lot then. Any chance on redoing our date sometime?"

"If you are willing to wait for 15 more minutes and you don't have other plans, we can go right away. I'm not on call tonight. Only as you see, I'm not dressed for a fancy place."

"Me neither," I point at my jeans and t-shirt. "I will wait for you outside. We can go somewhere casual to eat and talk."

"It's a plan. So, you are related to Ciara McKay," she stands up and hands me an envelope.

"Her dad and I are close friends and she's become a niece to me. She forgot this and her dad couldn't come by to pick it. It's fate you are Ciara's doctor."

Finally, life is being fair to me and giving me a new chance.

ZACK

I can't seem to stop yawning. After finishing late at the studio, I spent another two hours in a video call with Mila. We had an honest chat about our feelings and expectations on having a baby together. We are both sort of scared, worrying about raising her together when we don't even live in the same town, and I've been wondering how I will tell my parents. Mila's ideas to share the news include some sort of craft material, and even though I love her enthusiasm, I don't think my parents will appreciate the effort and creativity.

This morning, a new worry popped up in my head. If Mila moves here and can't find a job, how am I going to support them on my salary alone? Maybe I should ask David for financial advice, although I'm not sure if he has the time or energy for it. Yesterday, when I arrived at the studio, I found him at his desk hiding his face behind his hands. He jumped when I asked him if he was okay and then I saw how pale he was. He said he was fine, only tired because of a bad night of sleep. I wanted to believe him, but he didn't look only tired, he looked ill. When Kaley came back later from meeting with clients, I thought about telling her, but she was already in a bad mood and I didn't want to make things worse for her.

Working on weekends isn't my favorite thing, but I did for a couple of hours this morning to cope with the workload. I hope that David can find us someone to help soon. He placed a request with an agency and has received information from some candidates. I'll keep my fingers crossed that a good one is among them.

"I'm here to visit Elvam Kadar," I tell the hospital receptionist who gives me a warm smile and invites me to have a seat.

The rest of the team should be here soon, but I want to have some minutes to talk to him alone to give him good news that might help speed his recovery. A few days ago, I had just come home from work, and was deciding whether to cook or order food when I heard a noise coming from the living room. I realized Elvam's phone was ringing, and I almost broke my neck jumping over the coffee table to answer it.

"Hello?" I said as the number on the caller ID looked unfamiliar.

"Elvam?" I heard a deep voice say at the other end.

"No, this is Zack, Elvam's friend. Is this Cemil?" My heart beat fast hoping that it was him.

"Yes, can I talk to him?"

"Cemil... I can't soften the blow of this... Elvam is in a psychiatric center. He has been there for a week and a half already."

"What happened to him?" He demanded.

"Elvam is going through a major depression and tried to... Commit suicide."

"When did this happen? You said he has been there for a week and a half. Was that on a Sunday?"

His question left me puzzled, but I responded with an affirmative. I heard a muttered curse on the other side of the line.

"He left me a message on that day and many others, but that was his last. I've been out of the country and couldn't listen to them until now. My phone signal was almost nonexistent," he said in a frustrated voice.

"Before he got admitted, he asked me to contact you and tell you all about what happened. I'm seeing him coming Saturday. Do you want me to relay a message?"

"If I don't make it to see him this weekend. Tell him that I love him with all my heart and I'm sorry I didn't answer earlier. I'm back for good and will go to see him as soon as I'm settled."

That was the last we spoke and I'm sincerely hoping for Elvam that Cemil can make it today. The door of the visitors' room opens, but it isn't Elvam who comes out, but Dr. Joyce.

"Zack, can I have a word with you?" She asks in a tone that makes me worry.

After I follow her to the office right behind the reception, she motions for me to seat and instead of taking place behind the desk, she sits next to me.

"Elvam had a rough week and isn't well enough to receive visitors."

"Is he okay?"

"He will be, but at the moment, we have isolated him to prevent him from harming himself or the staff. Treating depression isn't only about propping a person full of medication. Elvam needs to work on his issues to gain control of his life again, but the hatred he has developed for his father isn't allowing him to make progress."

After thanking Dr. Joyce, I head outside and see David and Kaley walking towards me.

"Is he okay?" Kaley places her hands on my arms and searches in my eyes for the truth.

"He is, but can't receive visitors. I will explain when everybody is here."

We don't have to wait longer since Owen and Nathan arrive shortly and behind them walks an elegant man with the same complexion as Elvam.

"Cemil?" I ask and the man lifts his head to look at me.

"Are you Zack?"

"Yes, please join us. There's an unfortunate change in plans."

The disappointment in the group is evident after I explain the situation. Cemil's eyes are filled with so much sadness it's heartbreaking.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time," I say to him.

"Together with his mother, that boy is the love of my life, my son. I'm all he has now, and I want to be there for him, but how will he know I was here?" Cemil laments.

"I have an idea," Kaley says and walks inside the reception, leaving all of us confused.

We all look at David, who shrugs. A few minutes later, Kaley returns sporting a grin.

"Just a sec," she says as she walks by us. When she comes back, she carries a tote bag and a tool box. "It's design time. Follow me."

We return to the visitor's room and understand exactly what she means as she opens the tote bag and gets a pack of card stock. Everyone makes their tool picks from the box, and as I select a pack of colored pencils, I realize that Cemil hasn't moved from his place.

"Ever made a poster, Cemil?" I pat his shoulder and his expression changes.

"I guess there's a first time for everything," he chuckles.

We all get to work and inno time, we have six small posters. The receptionist gives us a smile as wehand them in and promises to deliver them to Elvam. Now we can only hope ourwords serve as support and that we will be able to see him soon.