Katherine woke to the muted hum of early sunlight slipping through the blinds. Even in the comforting cocoon of her apartment, the weight of uncertainty settled on her chest.
Across the hall.
The thought crawled through her head, dull and insistent. She lay still, staring at the ceiling, her heart threatening to race every time she thought of Leonard just steps away—close enough to knock anytime he chose.
Nathan and Maya tumbled into their room like twin hurricanes: laughter, bright voices, and urgent questions. "Mom, can we go play at Uncle Leonard's new place?" Nathan called with wide, hopeful eyes.
Maya nodded, voice high and eager: "Can we, Mom?" Their excitement buzzed in the cool morning air, and Katherine forced a gentle smile. "Maybe another time," she said softly, smoothing their hair. The twins looked disappointed but accepted her answer and raced off for cereal, unaware of how small their mother felt.
