Rehearsal begins on time.
It always does.
Laura arrives first.
Axel second.
Sunny drifting in with coffee and commentary.
Zane last — but only by minutes.
The room feels lighter than it has in months.
Sunny is glowing again.
Not exaggerated.
Not manic.
Just relaxed.
She leans into Zane on the couch while adjusting video levels.
He nudges her shoulder absentmindedly.
Domestic.
Easy.
Laura notes it.
Resolution successful.
Axel plugs in.
Tunes without fuss.
Glances toward Laura.
Ready.
They begin.
The first piece is familiar.
Their usual opener.
Structured.
Reliable.
Laura sets tempo.
Axel locks in.
Sunny hums quietly along.
Zane taps rhythm against his knee.
Technically, it is flawless.
But something feels… misaligned.
Not musically.
Internally.
Her hands are accurate.
Posture perfect.
Breathing measured.
Yet there is a faint sense of distance.
As if she is slightly behind herself.
Observing instead of inhabiting.
She adjusts pressure on the keys.
Compensates.
Increases precision.
The sensation does not leave.
Axel shifts dynamics slightly to match her.
He always does.
That synchronization has never failed them.
Today, it feels mechanical.
Predictable.
Expected.
She reaches a transition point.
Normally seamless.
Today, her fingers hesitate.
Not visibly.
Not enough for anyone else to hear.
But she feels it.
A microscopic delay.
Her pulse spikes again.
Not as sharp as before.
But present.
She finishes the phrase.
Then closes the lid.
Mid-piece.
Silence lands.
Sunny looks up first.
"Everything okay?"
Laura stands.
"Let's call it."
Her tone is neutral.
Uninflected.
Zane frowns slightly.
"Already?"
"We've run it enough."
Technically true.
Axel is watching her.
Not alarmed.
Attentive.
She gathers her sheet music.
Slides it into her folder.
No one challenges her.
Laura does not explain.
She does not owe explanation.
Structure allows discretion.
She leaves the studio without looking back.
The hallway air feels cooler.
Quieter.
Her footsteps echo faintly.
Behind her—
A second set of footsteps.
Steady.
Measured.
She does not turn around.
She does not tell him to stop.
Axel matches her pace automatically.
Not intrusive.
Not questioning.
Just present.
Laura does not mind.
That, too, feels unfamiliar.
-
The studio door closes behind them.
Inside, Sunny looks at Zane.
"She's been weird lately."
Zane's brow furrows.
Axel and Laura are already halfway down the corridor.
Not speaking.
Just walking.
And for the first time—
Laura does not feel like the one setting the tempo.