The morning came without ceremony.Amelia noticed that first, not the light or the sounds, but the absence of anything that asked to be interpreted.No tension in the air. No feeling that something might be waiting just out of sight.Just morning.She got up, dressed, and went downstairs without thinking twice about it.That used to matter more than it did now.In the kitchen, everything was already in motion.The twins were at the table, arguing in the same overlapping rhythm they always did. The youngest sat between them, calm, focused on eating like the world around him was just background noise.Alexander stood at the counter with coffee in hand, tablet open but resting more than being used.He looked up when she entered.“Morning,” he said.“Morning,” she replied.No pause after it. No extra weight behind it.Just exchange.Amelia poured water and leaned against the counter.“I didn’t think about anything before coming down,” she said quietly.Alexander didn’t look up immediately
Read more