The Morning She Vanished

Leo didn’t expect a knock this early.

He had just finished putting the dishes away, wiping down the table, and taking the morning meds Lyra had set out for him before she left — barely two hours ago, when a soft, deliberate knock echoed through the apartment. He frowned, tossing the dish towel onto the counter as a flicker of unease crept into his chest.

When he opened the door, his breath caugh