By the next morning, Lyra did not ask for help before she stood.
She still moved slowly.
Still carefully.
Still aware of every shift in her body, every pull, every quiet warning that she was not fully whole yet.
But she stood.
On her own.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
He didn’t rush to her this time.
Didn’t step in immediately.
He watched.
Lyra steadied herself beside the bed, her fingers brushing lightly against the edge before she took her first step.
Then another.
Then another.
Not perfect.
Not effortless.
But hers.
“I didn’t call you,” she said quietly, not looking at him.
Kael leaned back slightly in his seat.
“I noticed.”
Lyra glanced at him then.
A small, almost teasing look despite the fatigue still sitting beneath her eyes.
“And you didn’t come running.”
“
