The walk to the house didn't take long, but the closer he got, the stranger he felt. Not in a bad way. Just… aware. Lyra stayed close to him, almost brushing his arm, and every step made the place feel less like a broken building and more like something that might matter.
It was a tangible shift, a recognition in his core that this patched-up structure was quickly becoming a focal point in the chaos of this new world. He looked over at her, noting the comfortable silence they shared, a silence that felt heavier, more meaningful, than any conversation they might have had.
When they reached the door, he pushed it open and let her step in first.
