The digital clock on the bedside table flipped to 7:00 am, but Ryan was already awake.
Not because he had rested well because he hadn’t but because his body had learned, over years, how to rise even when his mind was heavy. He sat upright on the edge of the bed, with his feet planted firmly on the floor and his elbows resting loosely on his thighs. For a long moment, he did nothing. He didn’t reach for his phone. He didn’t check the time again. He just stared ahead, his eyes unfocused, breathing slowly but controlled.
The room was quiet.
Morning light filtered in through the partially drawn curtains, casting pale lines across the floor. Normally, he would already be mentally mapping out his day, security rounds, schedules, possible risks but today his thoughts refused to fall into order
