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."

quiet. Magnus sat up, heart thudding, and studied her flushed


Softly he called, "Denise."

Sleep held her

the kind

heater

actually found

palm on her forehead and felt the heat

the

"Are you having

Denise's hand shot

his, desperate and unyielding.

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

muscle in his body going rigid

"Denise, it's me."


clutched what she believed were

to free his hand,

which were fever-hot and trembling, locked around his like iron soaked in

surrendered to the grip,

hammering at the helpe

coursing through him. s

did you spike a fever now of all nights?" His

breath he drew seemed to bey the room

earn piles and piles of money," Denise whispered, words wandering in

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