Unexpected Detour

The gentle hum of the city outside Milo’s apartment window was a familiar lullaby, a comforting backdrop to the quiet introspection that often found him in the early mornings. Sunlight, still shy, painted soft stripes across his plush rug as he sipped his tea, the warmth spreading through him. He’d just finished a grueling but exhilarating week of shooting, the kind that left him both drained and buzzing with creative energy. His phone, resting on the coffee table, buzzed with a notification. It was Leo, his manager and friend, a constant presence in the whirlwind of his life.

“Morning, sunshine,” Leo’s voice, always a touch raspy and full of good cheer, crackled through the speaker. “You free for a chat? Got something interesting.”

Milo smiled, a genuine, crinkling-at-the-edges smile that always seemed to catch people off guard with its sheer sweetness. “Morning, Leo. Always free for you. What’s up?” He pictured Leo, probably already dressed in one of his impeccably tailored suits, a mug of impossibly strong coffee in hand.