The days that followed felt different. Not outwardly. Nothing in the routine changed, but internally. There was a sense of anticipation now, sharper than before, threaded with something that wasn’t entirely comfortable.
Taylor found herself thinking about it at odd times. While folding uniforms. While standing in line. While lying awake at night staring at the underside of the bunk above her.
What would the picture look like? Not just him, but the moment of seeing him.
She tried to imagine it. A vague face, a general outline. Something neutral. But her mind refused to settle on anything specific. That should have been reassuring.
It wasn’t.
When the envelope finally came, it didn’t feel like relief. It felt like something closing.
The officer passed it through the slot on her door wi
