Magnus leaned across the narrow kitchen table, worry tightening the line of his jaw. "What's wrong? Do you have no appetite at all?”

Denise gave a weary nod, strands of hair sliding over her pale cheek. "I probably just didn't sleep well. Let me crash for a bit. I'll eat around noon."

Magnus straightened, forcing a light tone that betrayed his relief. "All right. Go on, get some rest."

Denise rose, but a sudden wave of dizziness tilted the room. Her knees buckled, and she almost hit the floor.

She shook it off, convinced it was nothing more than fatigue. Steadying herself, she made the slow walk to the bed, stretched out, and slipped back into sleep almost instantly.

Left alone with the silence, Magnus collected the dishes, rinsed away the last traces of breakfast, and wiped the counter clean.

There was a time he wouldn't have lifted a finger. He had grown up untouched by chores, but Denise's gentle ultimatums had broken that habit.

In the past, when faced with Magnus' reluctance, Denise would reprimand him. Locking him outside or banning him from sleep until the kitchen sparkled had worked.

Now the routine felt natural, almost comforting.

When everything gleamed, he kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the couch.

Night-shift work flipped their hours upside down. Daytime naps were the only way they survived.

He had barely closed his eyes when Denise began murmuring across the room, her voice thin as mist drifting through a dream.

"Dad... Mom, don't worry. I'll make you better. Please, don't leave me."

up, heart thudding, and studied her flushed


Softly he called, "Denise."

stir. Sleep held

burned across her skin, the kind of heat

electric heater and wondered if it

actually found

his palm on her forehead and felt the

the heater

you having

hand shot from the

his, desperate and unyielding.

"Dad, Mom... Don't go."

every muscle in his body going rigid at

"Denise, it's me."


she clutched what she believed were her parents' hands, terrified they might vanish the moment

to free his

fever-hot and trembling, locked around

surrendered to the grip,

hammering at the helpe

coursing through him. s

spike a fever now of all

every breath he drew seemed to bey the room for answers he did not have.

money," Denise whispered, words wandering

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