The morning started like any other.
Maya woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of Knox moving around the kitchen. She lay in bed for a moment, her body still heavy with sleep, listening to the familiar sounds—the clink of a mug against the counter, the hiss of the coffee maker as it finished brewing, the low hum of Knox humming a tune she didn't recognize. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. Dust motes danced in the light, suspended in the air like tiny stars, and she watched them drift lazily.
She smiled. This was her life now. This was her home. The thought settled over her like a warm blanket, filling her chest with something she hadn't felt in years—peace. Real, genuine peace. The kind of
