The kitchen was silent that morning.
Sunlight streamed through the large windows, spreading a soft glow across the organized surfaces, reflecting off the light marble and carefully placed utensils. There was something almost reassuring about the atmosphere, a sense of stable routine that contrasted sharply with the absolute chaos of the previous night.
Kael leaned against the counter.
A glass of apple juice in his hand, his eyes half-lost as he stared blankly ahead like someone who hadn't yet decided if he was awake or merely existing out of sheer stubbornness. His slightly disheveled hair, his overly relaxed posture, and, above all, his expression… betrayed everything.
Exhaustion.
A profound exhaustion, the kind that comes not only from lack of sleep, but from an absurd excess of stimuli, energy, and physical exertion concentrated in a few hours.
He brought the glass to his lips and took a slow sip.
He sighed.
Long.
Heavy.
"I'm going to die."
