Chapter 11 The Space Between Us

• The gentle hum of birdsong drifted through the open window, mingling with the scent of fresh linen and the subtle aroma of the breakfast Nora was preparing downstairs. It was one of those quiet mornings where time felt slower, stretched out like warm honey over the surface of the day.
• Elena sat at the edge of the bed, still in her robe, absently rubbing a hand over her stomach. There was a slight curve now, delicate but undeniable. Her child their child was growing inside her. With each passing day, the thought grew heavier on her chest.
• She had woken early, long before the house stirred, and spent the hours lost in thoughts she couldn’t quite name. What was she supposed to do now? Stay hidden in this mansion like a kept secret? How long could she delay reality?