Evening had already settled into the house before Iris finally woke up.
It wasn’t a sudden jolt. It was the slow, rhythmic return of awareness—the low hum of silence, the faint orange glow of the setting sun slipping through the gaps in the curtains, and the way her body felt heavy yet restless. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes, blinking as she realized how quickly the night was approaching.
“Amelia,” she called softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
There was no response.
Iris stood and walked into the living room. Amelia was still asleep on the couch, curled slightly on her side. Her face was calm, smoothed of the tension that had been her constant companion lately. Iris paused for a moment, just watching her, before reaching out to touch her arm gently.
“Amelia,” she wh
