As the door clicked shut behind Mileh and Lina, the heavy silence in the apartment was broken only by the hum of the refrigerator. Mild stood by the counter, his eyes fixed on the floor, his mind replaying the conversation.
"Arm," Mild said quietly, finally looking up. "Why did you tell her that? About me and Enock?"
Arm sighed, moving into the kitchen to pour a glass of water. "Because I know her, Mild. She was trying to suffocate you with her status. She wanted you to feel like a ghost in your own home. I had to remind her that you've been at the center of everything—that you aren't just a bystander, you're an actor in this story."
"But I wasn't Enock's 'partner,'" Mild reminded him, a hint of a smile touching his lips despite the stress. "He barely tolerated me half the time. We were just... forced into the same room by the files."
