Terms of Surrender

The sharp knock on the door sliced through the quiet like a sudden crack of thunder in a still room.

He froze.

Not just from the sound—but from the possibility of who might be standing on the other side.

He paused—heart pounding, breath caught—caught between hesitation and a sudden surge of something he hadn’t expected.

Who could it be?

His hand was still on the last button of his shirt, half