The sky had barely settled into dusk when Lena stood in front of the mirror, fixing the neckline of her dress for the fourth time.
It wasn’t supposed to be anything special. Just a small welcome dinner, Ethan had said. A way for some of his new colleagues—and their partners—to meet her. And for her to stop feeling like such an outsider in a town that felt like it didn’t want her.
It was also Ethan’s birthday.
He’d almost forgotten about it, in all the chaos of their move. But Lena had remembered. She’d gotten him a simple silver watch, engraved with the words “Still in time — L”. It didn’t feel like enough. Nothing seemed enough lately.
“You ready?” Ethan’s voice called from downstairs, light and easy. Like he wasn't worried about this town or the strange energy that seemed to cling to
