Morning arrived in slow waves, spilling amber sunlight through the curtains and painting the apartment in golden warmth. Violet stirred in bed, tangled in the soft sheets, and realized she hadn’t dreamt at all. The quiet was complete, and yet, it didn’t feel empty. Bryan was already awake, sitting cross legged with a notebook on his lap, scribbling something in careful loops and lines. His focus was so absolute that he didn’t notice her watching him for several long seconds.

“Still scheming?” she asked softly, her voice a gentle intrusion into the silence.

He looked up, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Planning. It’s very different from...