Project Lazarus

e

started li

mell of leftover pasta still lingered in the air, warm and comforting. For a moment,

udy. It had become a pattern-him disappearing into that room after dinner and staying there longer

rime show, and I tried to watch it, tried to pretend like I was fine. But my eyes kept drifting toward the hallway

d barefoot down the hall. I paused outside the

still. His back was straight, his hands resting on the armrests. He wa

he w

ach tig

n?" I sa

espo

door open w

pted something important. But there was nothing in that room. Nothin

ame soft, polite smile he'd been giving

inking,"

but it didn't quite rea

aid, turning back toward the

t to say. My hands fidgeted with the hem

idn't matter. "Time

e I was walking into the cold

thing flickered in his eyes. Like he wasn't just seeing me

ke that, the

he said, his voic

and left the room, hear

-

t sleep t

he always did. He turned off the light. P

sed my eyes, I

ace was turned toward me, his eyes w

eep?" I w

lips parted, then closed again. F

th the t

g to settle. But every hair on my body stood on end. H

thing slow and deepen. I waited until I was su

ross his face. He looked peaceful. Too peaceful. Like he wasn't e

hing my fingers against his

ye

breath, so low it almost did

witch. No sti

t didn't go away.

-

morning w

ast. The eggs were overcooked. Burnt, re

. Just ate a few bite

asked, sipping

fast. "Yeah

said. "Didn't

him. "Yeah..

trying to figure out what I meant by

-

t for work, I walk

e had sat the night before,

cture. No note. No strange mar

g to see what he saw. Try

was a chill

-

people act different after trauma. That m

wasn't just that

mes, it didn't fee

t someone wearing his face. Someone who knew all the right w

stared at me... I wasn't s

-

blanket, trying to read. My eyes skimmed the same sentence five times

s keys on the counter, and

your day?

ged. "S

ed. "Mi

er si

te tomorrow. Got a client who

ust... don't push

it almost fel

't," h

forehead and wen

n't f

kering beside me. Listening to the silence. Feel

out something hi

he seems still but isn't resting. Where he s

watchi

e more-the man I saw, or the ma