Back on the Line

Stella

I’m still standing, frozen, just inside the threshold of the kitchen. The air is silent as Briggs and Gustav suddenly halt their cooking, their eyes meeting each other for a moment before they slide over to me.

“Stella?” Briggs’s voice is somewhat incredulous, seeing as how I haven’t set foot in here for the past three weeks. “Did you need something?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady