-Caspian Grayson:
The next morning settled over the house slowly, like it didn't fully commit to being day yet.
I was already awake before I really needed to be.
Not because I wanted to be.
More because my mind had decided it wasn't done running through things, even if I was done with them. I stayed in bed for a while, staring at nothing in particular, letting the quiet sit on top of me until it became normal again.
Eventually, I got up.
Got dressed.
Did everything in the simplest way possible, as if I moved slowly and didn't give my thoughts too much attention, they might decide to leave me alone.
They didn't.
So I stopped trying to fight them and just walked out of my room.
The house was already awake.
Not loud.
Just active in small, steady ways. The kind of activity that didn't demand attention but still filled every corner if you paid enough attention to it.
The kitchen smelled like food already.
I didn't rush.
I just followed it.
Papa was there when I walked in.
