Prologue
383 Words
The house was quiet in a way that didn’t feel empty, just settled.
Sofia stepped inside and slowed without really meaning to. The light from the living room was soft, stretched across the floor and furniture like it had been there for a while. Somewhere deeper in the house, Vivian’s voice carried faintly, laughing at something on her phone.
Normal sounds. Normal place.
Still, she paused for half a second.
Adrian Cole was already there.
Seated, calm, not doing anything that should’ve made the room feel different. Just present in a way that made everything around him feel slightly more aware.
He didn’t look surprised to see her.
That was the first thing she noticed.
Sofia kept moving after that, like she hadn’t stopped at all.
Vivian’s voice came again from the kitchen area, louder this time. “Sofia, don’t just stand there, come in abeg. I’m not doing VIP entrance for anybody today.”
Sofia let out a small laugh, shaking her head as she walked further in. “I’m coming.”
Vivian laughed from the kitchen. “Good. I’m hungry and my patience is already on low battery.”
Sofia dropped her bag on the nearest chair and sat down.
The room stayed normal.
That was what made it strange, maybe.
Because nothing was happening.
But she could feel it anyway.
Adrian hadn’t spoken since she came in. He rarely did when Vivian was around. But his attention shifted slightly at some point—not obvious, not direct. Just enough that it felt like he was aware of her being there in a way that didn’t need him to look.
Sofia looked away first without thinking too much about it.
Vivian came back still talking, holding snacks and already complaining about something else. The sound filled the space again, making everything feel lighter.
That helped.
A little.
Sofia leaned back into the couch, listening but not fully focusing anymore.
Across the room, Adrian moved once. Small. Controlled. Like he always did.
Prologue
Sofia noticed again.
Then didn’t try to explain why she noticed.
She just stopped looking in that direction.
Vivian kept talking like nothing else mattered, and the room went back to sounding normal again.
But something about it didn’t sit completely still anymore.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
Just there.
- Writer
