The door closed softly behind him.
Quiet.
Final.
Leah didn't move at first.
Still in bed.
Blanket wrapped around her.
Warmth lingering where he had been.
But the room felt different now.
Bigger.
Quieter.
Her eyes stayed on the door.
Listening.
Footsteps fading.
Then nothing.
Silence settled fully.
She exhaled slowly.
A long breath leaving her.
Then another.
Still awake.
Still there.
But not the same as before.
A pause stretched.
Then—
She shifted.
Slow.
Careful.
Not rushing it.
Her feet touched the floor.
Cool against her skin.
She stood.
Steadier than she expected.
But slower than before.
Her hand brushed lightly along the edge of the bed.
Grounding.
She moved toward the door.
Step by step.
Quiet.
Measured.
Reaching the doorway—
She stopped.
A small pause.
Her fingers lifted.
Resting lightly against herself again.
Not thinking.
Just… there.
"…I'm okay."
Soft.
Barely a whisper.
A breath followed.
"…You're fine."
She lowered her hand slowly.
Then stepped out.
The halls were quiet.
Too quiet.
Her footsteps soft against the floor.
Echoing slightly in the space.
The mansion felt larger without him.
Empty in a way it hadn't before.
She walked slowly.
Taking her time.
Not hurrying.
Letting the silence settle around her.
Light streamed through the windows.
Brighter now.
Warmer.
Spring had come.
The snow was gone.
Melted away completely.
Green beginning to return outside.
Soft.
Alive.
She paused near the window.
Looking out.
"…It melted," she murmured.
A small pause.
"…That was fast."
Her fingers brushed lightly against the glass.
"…It feels different now."
Another breath.
"…Lighter."
She stayed there for a moment longer.
Then turned.
Moving again.
Down the stairs.
Careful.
Hand brushing the railing.
Not gripping—
Just there.
Each step deliberate.
Measured.
Halfway down—
She paused.
Just for a second.
A quiet inhale.
"…Okay," she whispered.
Then continued.
At the bottom—
She turned.
And stopped.
Elias was already there.
Standing near the far end of the room.
Watching.
Not obvious.
But sharp.
He had seen her the moment she appeared.
"…You're up."
His voice calm.
Neutral.
Leah nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…You're usually still in bed at this time," he added.
"…Couldn't stay there."
"…Couldn't, or didn't want to?"
A small pause.
"…Both."
He studied her quietly.
Taking in everything.
The way she stood.
The way she held herself.
The stillness in her movements.
"…You've been different."
The words came simply.
No accusation.
No pressure.
Just… stated.
She stilled slightly.
Not startled.
Just aware.
"…Have I?"
"…Yeah."
A pause stretched between them.
"…How?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Slower."
A beat.
"…Quieter."
Another pause.
"…More careful."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"…That doesn't sound bad."
"…It's not."
A pause.
"…Just noticeable."
Silence again.
He stepped a little closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
"…He has too."
Her eyes flickered.
"…Izana?"
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…More focused on you."
Another beat.
"…More than before."
She looked down briefly.
Then back at him.
"…He's always been like that."
"…Not like this."
Silence stretched.
Longer this time.
"…We're fine," she said softly.
"…I didn't say you weren't."
"…You're thinking it."
A faint shift in his expression.
"…I'm observing."
"…That sounds worse."
A quiet breath left him.
Almost a laugh.
"…Maybe it is."
Another pause.
"…You paused on the stairs," he added.
She didn't deny it.
"…Just for a second."
"…That's still a pause."
"…You notice everything."
"…I have to."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…Yeah."
Silence softened slightly.
"…You should sit," he said.
"…I'm okay."
"…Leah."
A small pause.
She exhaled quietly.
"…Just for a minute."
She sat.
Carefully.
Not dramatic.
Just… aware.
He stayed nearby.
Not hovering.
Just present.
"…Did you eat?" he asked.
"…Not yet."
"…You should."
"…You sound like him."
"…That's not a bad thing."
A faint smile lingered.
"…No. It's not."
A pause.
"…I'll eat later."
"…Don't forget."
"…I won't."
Silence again.
Then—
She stood.
"…I'm going upstairs."
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…Leah."
She turned slightly.
"…Mm?"
He studied her briefly.
Then—
"…If something feels off… you tell someone."
A small pause.
"…I will."
"…I mean it."
"…I know."
Another beat.
"…I'm okay."
He nodded once.
"…Alright."
Then she left.
Her room was quiet again.
Familiar.
Safe.
She stepped inside slowly.
Letting the door close behind her.
The silence softer here.
She moved toward the mirror.
Stopping in front of it.
A long pause.
She looked at herself.
Not searching.
Not questioning.
Just… seeing.
"…You look the same," she murmured.
A beat.
"…But it doesn't feel the same."
Her hand lifted slowly.
Resting lightly where it had before.
This time—
She didn't hesitate.
Didn't pull away.
Just let it stay.
"…Okay," she whispered.
A breath followed.
"…Whatever this is…"
A pause.
"…It's okay."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
The tension easing.
The door downstairs opened.
Footsteps.
Familiar.
She stilled.
Listening.
A small pause.
"…Already?" she murmured softly.
Steps grew closer.
Then—
The door opened.
She looked up.
A pause.
"…You're back."
Soft.
Surprised.
He stepped inside.
Closing the door behind him.
"…I said I would be."
Simple.
Certain.
He crossed the room immediately.
No hesitation.
Stopping in front of her.
His hand lifting to her face.
Gentle.
Checking.
Always checking.
"…You're okay?"
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…You came back early."
"…I told you I would."
"…You usually don't leave meetings early."
A beat.
"…I did today."
She watched him quietly.
"…Because of me?"
"…Yes."
No hesitation.
Her expression softened.
Warmth settling in her eyes.
"…You didn't have to."
"…I wanted to."
A pause.
"…It was quiet without you," she murmured.
"…I know."
"…Too quiet."
"…Then I won't leave you like that again."
Her breath softened.
"…You don't have to stay all the time."
"…I know."
A beat.
"…But I want to."
Her hand lifted slowly.
Resting over his.
Holding it there.
"…Stay," she whispered.
A pause.
"…I am."
"…No meetings."
"…No meetings."
"…No leaving."
A small pause.
Then—
"…No leaving."
She exhaled softly.
Relaxing fully.
"…Good."
He didn't move away.
Didn't step back.
Just stayed close.
Like he always did now.
Like he wasn't going to stop.
And this time—
She didn't ask him to.