I woke up quietly the next morning.I lay still, staring at the ceiling, half-expecting to hear Leon’s soft footsteps or the low murmur of his voice on a phone call. The couch by the window was empty when I finally turned my head and the blanket was folded neatly, placed with deliberate care, like he had erased himself from the room before leaving.
I sat up slowly,rubbing my eyes in 1 order to see clearly as I pushed myself out of bed and headed into the bathroom. The mirror reflected a version of me that looked calmer than I felt. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and took a quick shower, letting the warm water clear the lingering fog in my mind and by the time I dressed, I had built my walls back up at least enough to get through the morning.
When I reached downstairs,I heard the soft
