For a few golden minutes, the world outside didn't exist. They stayed there, tangled in the sheets and the quiet safety of each other's presence, a rare moment of soft laughter and whispered promises that felt like a shield against the darkness of the last few months.
Then, a heavy knock at the door shattered the silence.
Samuel entered the room with a gait that lacked its usual confidence. His face was a mask of grim duty, his eyes refusing to meet theirs.
"It's not good news," Samuel said, the words falling like lead weights.
Ruby let out a sharp, weary breath, her shoulders tensing as she sat up. The "baby-like" peace she had felt upon waking was already evaporating. "I'm used to it now," she said, her voice laced with a bitter edge of irony.
"Each time you show up, Samuel, you bring bad news. What is it this time? Did the station burn down?"
Samuel took a breath, bracing himself. "Mia got bail. She's already out."
