The sky was still grey when Elena zipped her hoodie all the way up to her chin. Her hands trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from something deeper—something lodged beneath her skin like a splinter she couldn’t pull out.
Damian stood by the front door, already dressed, keys in hand. He handed her a cup of warm coffee without a word.
She accepted it, fingers curling around the heat like it was a lifeline. “Thank you.”
“You slept a little,” he said, watching her closely.
“Yeah.” She looked up. “Because you stayed.”
He gave her a tight nod. “Let’s go before the nerves kick in.”
They stepped into the early morning haze. The city hadn’t woken up yet—just a few birds in the trees and the distant hum of a bus engine. Everything felt quieter than usual. Like the world was holding its b
