Chapter 07
Bruce didn’t sleep much that night. The hours dragged into one another, and when sleep finally came, it carried nothing but fragments of voices he couldn’t place and shadows he couldn’t outrun. He woke with a start more than once, each time reaching for the phone at his bedside.
By dawn, the phone was still silent. No new messages. The absence felt heavier than their presence.
He dressed with mechanical movements, every button fastened without thought. His reflection in the mirror showed the wear of a man stretched thin, but he looked away before the image could settle too firmly.
Downstairs, the children’s laughter greeted him first. Their voices tangled in excited chatter as they shared stories over bowls of cereal. It was grounding in a way, but it didn’t steady him entir
