The bell above the studio door jingled softly as Nadyia stepped inside, balancing a sleeping Ethan in his carrier on one arm and her coffee in the other. The familiar scent of lavender cleaner and aged wood grounded her, though a strange tightness sat in her chest today, subtle, but persistent. She glanced around the studio. Everything was in place.
The backdrops were rolled neatly, the props organized, and the light filtering through the wide front windows gave the space its usual golden glow. Ethan stirred faintly, but settled as she gently set him in the corner bassinet. Her eyes flicked briefly to the small black panic button tucked under the desk. She exhaled. It’s just a normal day. That’s what she told herself. But still, she locked the front door behind her.
Nadyia was midway thr
