Willow woke earlier than she needed to, the light outside still muted and undecided, the city moving at half speed. She stayed in bed for a few seconds, listening to the low hum of traffic far below, the sound softened by distance and glass. The apartment felt calm in a way that didn't ask anything of her, and she took that as a small kindness.
She got up and moved through the morning without overthinking it.
The bathroom light came on, pale and functional, and she washed up, tied her hair back, and let the water run warm over her skin longer than strictly necessary. It helped her stay in her body instead of drifting ahead to what came next. When she dressed, she chose clothes that felt familiar and easy, nothing that carried weight or meaning beyond comfort. Packing her bag took only a few minutes. Everything she needed fit without negotiation, folded neatly, zipped closed, and placed by the door like it had always belonged there.
