Alex woke up in his own bed for the first time in days.
The room was the same. Neat desk. Closed curtains. The borrowed hoodie from Kevin was draped over the chair where he’d left it the night before. For a few seconds he lay still and listened to the house. Water running somewhere. A door closing downstairs. Ordinary sounds that somehow felt heavier than they used to.
He got up, showered, and dressed before he could talk himself into staying in the room all morning. When he opened his door, the hallway was empty. Troy’s door was shut. Alex walked past it and went downstairs.
Bridget was in the kitchen making breakfast. She looked up when he entered and gave him a small, careful smile.
“Morning. Sit. There’s coffee.”
Alex sat. She put a mug in front of him without asking how he took i
