Chapter 50

Maya’s POV

The city hummed outside my window, a familiar, comforting sound now, not the overwhelming noise it used to be.

It had been a few days since I’d surprised Daniel at his office, since I’d met Lila. That conversation with Lila, her no-nonsense wisdom, it had really stuck with me. She made me feel like rebuilding wasn’t just possible, but exciting.

I was at my brother’s s apartment today, helping him organize some old art books. It was a small task, something to keep my hands busy, something to feel useful. But mostly, it was just good to be here, with my brother, feeling the quiet normalcy of everyday life.

He had been my rock, my steadfast support through everything, and now, I could be there for him too.

Daniel walked into the living room from his study, carrying a stack of papers, his usual focused intensity softened by something new, something almost luminous.

He was humming under his breath, a low, tuneless melody. He set the p