= Elias =
The moment the door shut behind them, the house fell into a silence so heavy it almost rang in my ears.
A second earlier, the living room had been filled with voices—tense, careful, circling around the truth none of us wanted to confront. Now there was nothing. Just the faint creak of wood settling and the distant rustle of wind against the windows.
The delta and Gab were gone.
And suddenly, the space felt too large. Too quiet.
I knew Gab hadn’t wanted to leave. I had seen it in the way he lingered by the doorway, his hand resting against the frame like he was debating whether to stay or go. But Gab also knew me better than most. He had read the look in my eyes and understood what I hadn’t said out loud.
I needed time.
Time to think. Time to process the words that had just
