The sanctuary was quiet in a way Mondrovia never was. No sirens. No comm chatter. Just trees, and wind, and a small stone house tucked into the hills outside the city.
"This is yours?" I asked, stepping out of the car.
"My family's," Adrian said. "Nobody's used it properly in years. I used to come here as a kid, before everything got complicated."
"It's beautiful."
"It's quiet," he said. "I didn't realize how much I needed quiet until Kelly's wedding reminded me what peace actually looks like."
We spent the first day doing almost nothing. We walked through the garden, cooked simple meals together, and sat outside as the sun went down, saying very little, just existing side by side.
That night, for the first time in longer than I could remember, Adrian slept the whole night through. No waking at odd hours. No visions pulling him upright. Just deep, steady sleep, his hand loosely holding mine even in rest.
