The morning was quieter than I expected. Not the kind of quiet that’s comforting, but the kind that makes you notice everything — the soft creak of the stairs, the faint hum of the kettle in the kitchen, the distant chatter of the house staff moving about like shadows.
I sat on the edge of my bed for a long while, hands on my stomach, watching the sunlight shift across the floor. It felt like everyone was waiting for me to start my day the way they expected — careful, measured. But I wasn’t ready to perform yet. Not really.
My phone buzzed. Another message. From a colleague checking in. Another reminder of interviews I hadn’t agreed to. Another subtle expectation pressing in. I put it down and let myself breathe for a few more minutes. Just a few.
By the time I got to the kitchen, Maya
