Kim stood in the kitchen, moving from the stovetop to the counter with surprising ease for someone who rarely cooked. A hint of golden sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft lines across the floor. The scent of sizzling eggs, grilled tomatoes, and toasted bread filled the air. He tasted the scrambled eggs with the tip of a spoon, added a pinch more salt, and stirred again, focused like a chef on a mission.

He looked around, everything had to be just right. The table was neatly ...