დ Elara დ
The morning after the broadcast tasted stale, like popcorn left in a bowl overnight. I sat at the office desk with the blinds half closed and the letter from the county under my palm like a pulse. Project suspended pending review. The words were still true, but they did nothing for the ache that climbed behind my ribs. I hadn’t been able to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the studio lights and Celeste’s effortless smile. The way she said his name felt like it belonged on a place card beside crystal. I pressed my thumb into the edge of the letter until it hurt, and then I told myself to breathe.
“Open the blinds,” Rowan said. I looked over to see him standing in the doorway with a mug in his hand and a look that tried to be casual. “You look like you live in a cave,”
