A FEW DAYS LATER
MICHAEL'S POINT OF VIEW:
It had been a quiet afternoon, one of those rare ones where the sun filters just right through the kitchen windows, and for a second, everything felt… normal. Isabella was asleep on the living room couch, a throw blanket pulled up to her chin, her hand resting lightly on the slight curve of her belly. Her cheeks had color again, thank God. Whatever weird aftermath the game had left behind, we were finally healing from it. One day at a time. I was rinsing out a cup when I heard the door click open.
Emory stepped in with that familiar calm energy of his, but this time, something was different. Mara was close behind him, moving slower than usual. She looked tired, not like game tired, not like "fought monsters in a VR death realm" tired just real world, bone deep exhausted. Her hand rested low on her stomach.
"Hey." I said, stepping over to help her into a chair. "Everything alright?"
Mara gave a weak smile.
