Chapter 1929

Sheldon's 43rd birthday was an excuse for everyone to drink—hard. Maybe it was something about being in their 40s now, but they found themselves gathering more often and reminiscing about the past over endless rounds of alcohol. Aurelia and Cyrus, the two youngest at the table, had no patience for the nostalgia-fueled ramblings of middle-aged adults. Every time these gatherings happened, they would sit off to the side, whispering to each other about how much the grown-ups loved drinking and talking big. Sheldon stepped onto the rooftop and took a drag from his cigarette. His head was spinning—probably from drinking too much that night. Absentmindedly, he pulled out a small bottle from his pocket. Back when he was still in Wilfred's lab, Zion had already left. And under Wilfred's persuasion, Sheldon had let himself fall into the dream. For years, he had believed he was in love with Maeve. Although it was a quiet, unspoken crush that was buried deep, youthful obsessions had a wa