The downstairs didn't seem to have suffered too much trauma. It had been cleaned, getting rid of the graveyard of cobwebs and dust that had slathered most of the surfaces, and a new array of living room had been introduced, replacing the ancient shit with a gigantic Lazy Boy and matching side chairs.

The breakfast bar in the kitchen had received a new countertop, replacing the old, out-dated one, and a small, round table had been added to the wisp of space that slipped out past the island. I didn't bother looking upstairs. I simply dumped Lumen on the couch, deeming it a good call on insisting on the pull-up,...