Morning After the Confession

The morning broke gray and hollow, the kind of light that made the world feel tired before it even began. The storm had passed, but its residue clung to everything—to the streets, to the walls, and to the café that still smelled faintly of rain and burnt espresso.

Celine unlocked the door in silence. Her hands shook slightly as she flipped the sign from Closed to Open. Behind her, Liam carried in a crate of supplies, setting them down without a word. Neither had ...