✦ The House – Before Dawn ✦
From the balcony, Syra's mother watched her daughter in silence.
A small smile rested on her lips—not a smile of full understanding, but that of a mother who had caught a scent of something, without yet grasping it.
The night retreated slowly.
It left behind stolen glances, breaths that drew close but never touched, and whispers that remained imprisoned in the chest.
It was as if the air itself held the secrets, deciding to postpone the revelation.
✦ Morning ✦
The sunlight crept shyly into the kitchen.
It mingled with the aroma of coffee rising from the cup Rina held with both hands.
The steam rose slowly, as if trying to shape the features of a sleepless night.
Syra sat at the table, staring into the brown whirlpool in her cup, as if searching for an answer in its depths.
She said in a neutral voice… a bit too neutral:
"Mom… I think I heard the door open last night."
The mother took a sip of her coffee.
She hid her smile behind the cup, then placed it quietly on the table.
She raised her eyes to Syra—a light look, yet a piercing one.
"Syra, my daughter… when did you get back? And… did you find the cat?"
Before she could answer, Ellyn's gaze cut through hers, slightly sharp:
"Don't do that again. Midnight is no time to go searching for cats."
But Rina leaned forward, her tone warm: "Did you find her? Poor thing…"
Syra hesitated.
She set her cup down slowly, as if testing the firmness of the ground before taking a step.
"Regarding… Black."
The mother's eyebrows rose. "Did you name her Black?"
Ellyn and Rina exchanged glances, then said in unison: "Who named her?"
The mother laughed softly, raising her hands: "A slip of the tongue… I mean, did you name her?"
Syra nodded. "Yes… me."
Rina said excitedly: "Then we'll put out some food today. She must still be in the garden."
But something in Syra's expression was… off. Unstable.
"Black… is gone."
Ellyn: "Gone? On her own?"
"The neighbor…" Syra said quickly. "He said he would take care of her."
Ellyn tapped the table lightly, a playful tone in her voice: "Our neighbor? Which neighbor? What was his name?"
Syra gave her a side-eye: "Ellyn… enough."
The mother asked, her tone casual, yet watching every movement: "Are you going out to look for a job?"
Syra grabbed her bag, turned toward the door, and said without thinking:
"Aiden—"
Time froze.
The mother and Rina turned together: "What?"
But Syra had already opened the door.
She rushed out… as if escaping a name that had escaped her before she could process it.
Outside, she let out a long breath: "Finally… I almost revealed everything."
"And what exactly did you do for that to happen?"
The voice came from behind her.
She startled. Her cheeks flushed red.
"I… I just went out at night."
"Reckless?" Aiden said with a light tone. "Where is Black?"
He flashed his signature lopsided smile: "At home. And if you want to see her… jump from the balcony."
Then he turned away.
✦ The Garage ✦
He put on his helmet.
The bike's engine roared to life.
He stopped in front of her.
"Want a ride?"
✦ The Pet Store ✦
The lighting was warm, the scents a mixture of everything.
Aiden stopped in front of a small collar shaped like a butterfly.
"What do you think of this one?"
Syra burst out laughing: "Aiden! Black is completely black… red would be enchanting."
He shook his head: "Blue is calmer."
Then he leaned down, examining a plush toy, and said in a low voice:
"I saw her kneading the blanket… cats that were separated from their mothers too early do that."
He fell silent for a moment.
"I'm afraid it might leave a scar in her… I'll make it up to her."
Syra watched him without interrupting.
Something in her chest opened up.
He suddenly smiled: "I'll buy all the toys."
She laughed: "You… are kind-hearted."
✦ The Fracture ✦
Thud… thud… thud… The sound of footsteps.
Syra stopped talking.
Aiden's face changed.
His hair fell over his eyes… but his eyes were no longer there.
He raised his hand to his head.
His body shook.
He leaned against the shelf.
"Aiden?"
He didn't hear her.
Thud… thud… thud… He was no longer in the store.
A child.
Cold ground.
Small hands… stained.
The sound is swallowed.
And the sky… is silent.