Chapter Thirty: When Silence Answers Back
The first night after their conversation, Eli didn’t knock. Nora noticed. She told herself she wouldn’t. She even stayed up later than usual, pretending to read, pretending not to listen for footsteps in the hallway. But the house remained still. No soft knock. No “You awake?” No quiet presence leaning against her doorframe. Just silence. She lay back against her pillow and stared at the ceiling. This is what you asked for, she reminded herself. Space. Healthy. Mature. Necessary. It shouldn’t feel like something had been taken from her. — The next morning was worse. Eli was already at the breakfast table when she came downstairs. Usually he waited. Sometimes he’d call her lazy if she took too long. Sometimes he’d knock on her door just to annoy her awake. Today he was si
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