Ava woke to voices. At first, they blended into the remnants of her sleep, indistinct murmurs that drifted through her dreams like echoes down a long corridor. She shifted beneath the covers, frowning slightly, instinctively pulling the duvet higher as though that might shut the world out.
But the voices didn't fade.
They grew clearer.
"…place them by the window first."
"No, not there. Over there. He'll want options."
Ava's eyes fluttered open.
Sunlight spilled through the curtains in soft bands, brighter than she expected. For a split second, she thought she'd overslept. Her heart jumped as she pushed herself upright, disoriented, her hair falling into her face.
Then she saw the movement.
Her bedroom, her quiet sanctuary was no longer quiet.
