Days passed and the feeling of being watched never fully went away. It hung in the air like quiet mist, soft but always there. Elias and Mara kept to their usual schedule. They opened the shop at the same time, worked through the hours, and closed up as the sun went down. But every time the bell above the door rang, or a car slowed on the street, they both paid close attention.
Elias did not let the worry change who he was. He still greeted customers warmly, helped carry heavy loads, and talked with neighbors like nothing was wrong. But Mara could see the difference in his eyes. He looked at every person twice, and he always knew exactly where the nearest exit or strongest piece of furniture stood.
“They are waiting for us to make a mistake,” Elias said one evening while they sat at the
