He fell asleep on the couch.
Julia hadn't planned it and Daniel certainly hadn't they'd talked until well past midnight, the kind of talking that started with the immediate thing and then quietly expanded into everything adjacent to it. His father. Her sister. The years before all of this when they'd both been building versions of themselves that were functional and sufficient and privately a little lonely.
At some point the talking had slowed.
Then stopped.
Julia had looked over from the chair and Daniel was asleep head back, completely still, the controlled composure of his waking hours entirely absent. He looked younger. Less managed. Like a person rather than a position.
She got the spare blanket.
Draped it over him without waking him.
Stood there for a moment in the quiet apa
