The first light of dawn painted the hotel room in muted blues and grays when Thiago opened his eyes. He lay still for several long moments, staring up at the ceiling—its bland beige surface marred by faint water stains and hairline cracks that branched like tiny rivers across plaster. Weak sunlight seeped through the half-closed blinds, casting slatted shadows that crept slowly across the carpet as morning deepened.
