SOFIA
The house returned to its normal routine the next morning. Usually, a return to the schedule made things easier to handle. It provided a sense of order that made the days pass more quickly.
But this time, the routine made everything feel worse.
Nothing had changed on the surface. Security remained heavy around the north wing. The staff moved through the hallways with the same quiet efficiency they always had. Doors opened and closed exactly on time. Meals were delivered at the same hours, and the guards rotated in their usual controlled patterns.
The structure held firm.
But underneath that structure, something felt off. Every interaction and every silence felt misaligned. And I knew exactly when it had started.
I stayed in my room longer than usual that morning. I sat by the w
