Amara tied her hair up into a rough bun, letting stray curls fall where they pleased.
She walked barefoot across the room. Her steps were light, but her mind was restless. The closet stood slightly ajar, groaning as if it had been opened too often in too short a time. She gripped the handle, pulled it wider, and stared at the few things Elias had carried into her life and quietly made permanent.
He usually spends days with her now. His shoes lined beside hers on the floor, his crisp shirts were pressed and hanging in place, and his scent clinging to everything he touched.
He hadn't just taken space in her apartment. He had seeped into her routines, her breaths, and her silences.
She sometimes found herself pouring two cups of coffee before remembering he liked his darker, and stronger. She set the blanket aside at night, knowing his body ran warm enough to keep her from shivering.
