RAPHAEL
Sleep stopped making sense a long time ago. I’d lie down out of habit, stare at the ceiling, and wait for nothing to happen. Most nights, I ended up back in my study room anyway.
Same chair, same silence,same thoughts I didn’t ask for.
Nora.
That was always where my mind went first.
Her mug was still on the shelf near the cabinet. I noticed it every time I looked up. Nobody moved it. I didn’t tell anyone to. It was just there like she was still going to walk in and pick it up.
The chair across my desk bothered me the most. She used to sit there like she owned the place. Sometimes arguing, sometimes quiet, sometimes just watching me like she was figuring me out piece by piece.
I used to think she was too bold for her own good.
Now the room just felt wrong without it.
I pus
