Kalisa sat on the couch, hugging a pillow close to her chest. Her face was pale, tired, her eyes carrying the weight of truths she wasn't ready to speak.
She was tired from everything she had recently learned about her mother. She was not blaming her, but she was shocked to discover that the woman she had been protecting did not need her protection. She was shocked to learn that she had dealt with assassins.
When Caleb walked in, his presence was gentle but searching, like he had already sensed something was unravelling, and he had come to catch it before it shattered completely.
"Thanks for coming," Kalisa said, her voice soft, guarded.
"Of course," Caleb replied, moving closer but keeping his tone light. "You said you weren't feeling too well. What's going on, Kalisa?"
She looked at him for a long moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm okay. Just… tired. A lot on my mind."
