The warm, late afternoon sun poured through the studio windows, casting soft light across the white backdrops and softly draped fabrics. Ethan was giggling quietly from his playpen in the corner, tapping a teething ring against his chubby leg while Nadyia uploaded photos from her last client’s session. The scent of coffee and baby wipes lingered in the air, her usual rhythm, her small sanctuary of work and motherhood.
But lately, that sanctuary didn’t feel... untouchable anymore.
She minimized the photo window and glanced toward the front door for the third time in ten minutes. Nothing. Just the usual shadows. Still, the hairs on her neck stayed raised, and the back of her mind buzzed with quiet alarm. It was like being watched from a place just beyond the edges of vision. That sensation
