The car ride home was filled with a heavy silence, the kind that felt as thick as the fog outside. Barbara glanced at Lycus from the corner of her eye, noting how his jaw remained set, eyes focused on the road ahead. It was as if he was trying to shield her from the weight of their reality, but the tension was palpable.
Barbara shifted in her seat, the fabric of her dress brushing against her skin uncomfortably. “Do you think the doctor was being overly dramatic?” she asked, trying to break the silence. Her voice felt small, almost swallowed by the quiet of the car.
Lycus glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road. “No,” he replied, his tone flat but lacking the usual edge. “She’s right to be cautious.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles whit
