Three days drifted by.
Nothing but silence filling the space between them.
Leo kept moving work, home, bed. He avoided his phone like it might bite. Routine helped him forget for a little while.
Alex stared at his screen, watching unread messages pile up. Calls went straight to voicemail. Hope faded into something quieter, heavier.
Lila just sat in class and stared through the world. The contest deadline got closer while she barely noticed.
Something had to give.
Day One
Leo woke to his alarm and shut it off. He stared up at the ceiling for a long time.
His phone sat on the nightstand, black screen, silent as a stone.
He left it alone.
Downstairs, his mom moved through the kitchen like usual, quick and careful.
They said good morning a few words, nothing that meant anything. Lila wasn't at breakfast.
He ate by himself. The quiet felt worse than any argument.
At the café, Aiden shot him a look. "You good?"
"I'm okay," Leo replied.
