The day still young at 1:00 p.m., Zeidan walked into his building and headed for his room while waving at the people who greeted him. He couldn't measure up how much he had missed Lyne and he wondered if running to see her face was the best.

Turning into the room, he was welcomed by the fresh lavender smell that filled his nostrils. He stopped at the entrance and his mouth dropped open at the transformation in his room. The grey walls had been replaced with newly lemon-painted walls. The curtains were from a piece of heavy fabric to tiny linens that could filter heat and let in ventilation. He...