The city showed up again in gray buildings and loud traffic.
Thorne drove straight to his apartment. Caroline watched the skyline come closer and felt the cabin's calm fall away, mile by mile. Cars cut in too close. Sirens echoed in the distance. The streets looked the same as always, but her body reacted like it was a new danger.
Neither of them commented on it. They carried their bags, rode the elevator, and let the quiet thin out on its own.
Inside, Thorne set their bags down and shrugged out of his coat.
“I'm going to shower," he told her.
Caroline nodded. “Okay."
At the bedroom door he paused, eyes steady. “See if your mom wants to come tonight for dinner."
“Oh, okay!" she replied.
Caroline sat on the couch, her phone in her hand. The apartment was warm and clean, but her ch
