The apartment was quiet, filled only with the soft clinking of spoons against porcelain and the occasional gentle exhale of steam from their cups.
Kendrick and Zephany sat side by side at the small wooden dining table, sipping tea in the kind of peaceful silence that had become rare lately.
The aroma of ginger and honey hung lightly in the air, a comfort after a day of bland hospital food and buzzing monitors. The warmth of the tea seeped into their hands and eased the lingering exhaustion in their bones.
Just as Zephany lifted her cup for another sip, both their phones buzzed simultaneously, slicing through the calm like a blade. The sudden noise startled them. Zephany flinched, almost spilling her tea. Kendrick jerked slightly, his mug tapping loudly against the saucer.
They both blinked and looked at their phones.
Kendrick frowned lightly. "It's my mom," he muttered.
Zephany looked down at her own phone. "Pia messaged me," she said quietly.
