Chapter 94

• The key was still in my coat pocket when a message arrived to my phone.
• It had only been a few hours since Julian and I stood together in the flagship space, surrounded by the scent of dust and beginnings. We had not spoken much after locking the door behind us. There was no need to narrate what had already settled between us. What we were building now did not require headlines or declarations. It required presence, intention, and something steadier than hope. Something more durable than ambition.
• I had just slipped off my shoes when I saw the message.