Lingering Absence

Breakfast came and went. Plates were cleared, coffee cups emptied, and one by one, the team filtered out of the dining area with the hum of morning chatter trailing behind them.

But Kaelen never showed.

Lyra tried to hide her disappointment behind quiet sips of juice and half-hearted nods at Kira’s attempts to keep the conversation going. It was no use. The hollow ache in her chest only grew hea