I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to steady.
Even if it lasted only ten minutes, I wanted this peace to stay in my body a little longer.
Not long after, three soft knocks sounded—rhythmic, measured.
I didn’t even need to open my eyes to know—Clara.
The Lockes never knock.
They kick doors, shove them open, barge in—
As if even closing a door was a privilege I didn’t deserve.
“Come in.”
Sure enough, Clara walked in carrying a steaming bowl of noodles.
“Miss Aria, please eat some while it’s hot.”
I pushed myself up against the headboard, took the bowl from her.
A familiar scent—
The warmth of sesame oil, the rising steam touched with scallions, noodles cooked just right…
Just like when I was a child—
If I ever truly had such a thing as a childhood.
“You barely ate earlier.
