Daniel woke up. Same bed. Same emptiness.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains. Mocking. Wrong.

He rolled over. Reached across the bed. Cold sheets. No warmth. No Emma.

Days since Robert took them. Since the house emptied. Since life stopped.

Daniel sat up. Heavy. Everything hurt.

The house echoed. Too quiet. Too big.

He walked downstairs. Barefoot. Still in yesterday's clothes. Time ...