He couldn't believe he was free.
Even now, after spending several days with his son, the reality still felt strange. Sometimes, he would wake up and need a few moments to remember where he was. He would look around the unfamiliar room, see his child sleeping nearby, and struggle to convince himself that they weren't going to be taken away again. The ceiling was different. The air smelled clean. There were no locks on the outside of the door. Still, his body woke expecting the old rules.
The first two weeks after their arrival in Novaterra had been particularly difficult.
Philip had suffered from nightmares. Some nights, he would wake up crying. Other times, he would remain awake until morning because he was afraid of falling asleep. Sleep had once been a risk. In that place, unconsciousness had meant vulnerability. The habit of staying alert did not leave simply because the danger had.
