Norwan's body trembled slightly as he sat there, staring at the remnants of the cracked window, the dull light that filtered through doing little to soothe the ache in his heart. The room around him felt colder than before, the silence pressing down on him with the weight of regret and loss. His fingers clenched into fists as he held back another wave of emotion, the flashback of Natalie’s voice, her frustration, echoing in his mind. He had always known she was the grounding force, the one to pull him back from the edge when his impulsiveness spiraled out of control.

But now, that presence was gone.

The tears fell...