The key turned in the lock with a familiar click, and Emma hesitated for a moment before pushing open the door to their apartment. It had been weeks since she'd last set foot in this space - weeks filled with hospital stays, safe houses, and courtroom drama. Now, with the trials over and a semblance of normalcy returning, coming back felt both comforting and strange.
Tom's hand on the small of her back provided gentle encouragement. "You okay?" he asked softly.
Emma nodded, taking a deep breath as she stepped inside. "Yeah, just... a lot of memories here."
The apartment looked much as they had left it, save for a thin layer of dust that had settled over everything. Emma's eyes were drawn to the spot where her father had confronted them that fateful night, the night that had set in motio
