[1] In the bakery kitchen, hail drifted past the windows. [2] I held a chipped mug and listened to pages fluttering. [3] Darius joked about the darkness, but their fingers stayed clenched around the flashlight. [4] Darius stood near me, eyes alert and bright. [5] For a moment, the world felt smaller than it used to. [6] Someone nearby hummed a tune that would not resolve. [7] We spoke in half-sentences, leaving the rest hanging. [8] Darius traced a circle on the table with one fingertip. [9] A shadow crossed the doorway and disappeared. [10] I took a breath and tried to choose the next right thing.