CASSIAN
The morning after the rooftop, the world didn't look different, but it felt heavier.
The city was already screaming below us, a mess of sirens and shouting, but inside the apartment, the air was thick.
We moved around each other like we were walking on a frozen lake, waiting for the first crack. We had crossed a line.
There was no going back to being whatever we were before. We were standing in a new country now, and neither of us knew the language.
Julian was at the counter making coffee. He kept his back to me. I could see the jade pendant hanging from his collar, the green stone catching the light.
His movements were steady. He scooped the grounds and poured the water just like he did every morning, but it was all different.
Every small sound felt like it was amplified.
I sat at the table and watched him. I didn't bother picking up a book or pretending to look at my phone.
