Nora did not close the door immediately after Adrian left.
She stood there, her hand resting against the frame, her posture still and composed in a way that masked the storm rising beneath it. The hallway outside had fallen silent again, his presence retreating as cleanly as it had arrived, but the effect he left behind remained.
It lingered.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Only when the quiet settled fully did she step back and shut the door with measured care, as though even the smallest sound might disturb the fragile control she was holding onto.
Inside, everything looked the same.
The small living room. The neatly arranged furniture. Ethan’s toys scattered across the floor in imperfect order.
Ordinary.
Safe.
But the illusion had shifted.
Because now she knew,without doubt, without hope
