Tuesday, December 20, 2022
The Torch Doha Hotel
5:47 AM
Morning came early with alarms cutting through the darkness, and Demien woke to find his bag already packed from the night before sitting near the door.
Sophia stirred beside him and reached for her phone on the nightstand, and the screen showed their departure time in bold text—flight at 9:15 AM, which meant leaving the hotel by seven.
"We should get ready," she said quietly, and her voice carried the grogginess of interrupted sleep.
They moved through the routine efficiently because there was nothing left to do in Qatar and no reason to delay, and within thirty minutes they were dressed and carrying their bags toward the elevator.
6:34 AM
Hotel Restaurant
Luca was already at a table when they arrived, and he looked more awake than he had any right to be while eating eggs and toast with enthusiasm.
"Finally," he said when he saw them approaching, "I thought you two were going to make us late."
