Elias woke up before the alarm. The apartment was still dark, only the streetlight outside painted thin lines on the ceiling. He lay there for a minute, listening to the quiet. No car horns. No arguing neighbours. Just the soft sound of Lila breathing in the next bed.
Today they were leaving.
He got up at six and crept. First, he turned off the fridge, the water heater, and every plug he could find. Then he pulled the plastic covers over the couch and the small table, the ones the landlord had given them years ago. Dust wouldn't have time to settle, he hoped. He didn't know how long they would be gone, but he wanted the place to feel the same when they came back.
Lila was already up when he went to wake her. She was sitting on her bed surrounded by stuffed animals, trying to choose which ones to bring.
"Only four," Elias said, voice still rough from sleep.
"But Mr Bunny will be lonely without Mrs Bunny," she whispered, holding up two rabbits.
Elias sighed. "Fine. Five."
