The room was dark, the curtains drawn tight against the morning light. Eddie sat hunched on his bed, a blanket pulled over his shoulders like armor, his eyes glued to the glow of the computer screen. Hours had passed. His fingers moved over the keys with mechanical rhythm, almost without thought. The dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced than ever, testament to a night spent in obsession rather than sleep.
The phone rang.
Eddie froze.
Karen's name flashed across the screen.
"Oh my— Yes!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "Karen is calling!"
The door swung open before he could do anything else. Mathieu stepped inside.
"Finally!" Mathieu barked.
"Finally," Eddie repeated, fumbling to pick up the phone.
The video call connected, and Karen's face filled the screen. She was outside, sitting under the bright morning sun in a garden, the breeze stirring the leaves behind her. Her brown eyes caught the camera, and then she noticed Mathieu standing behind Eddie.
