Boston Medical – 6:47 AM
The first light of morning spilled through the blinds in thin, golden threads. Amara sat on the edge of her bed, toes curling against the cool floor, sketchbook closed in her lap. She hadn't opened it yet. Not because she had nothing to draw—but because today, she wanted to live a moment before she captured it.
A quiet knock.
Jordan, the nurse from a few days ago, peeked in with a soft smile. "Hey. You're on the discharge list."
Amara blinked. "I am?"
Jordan nodded. "Today's your last sunrise here—if you want it to be."
Discharge Lounge – 9:15 AM
Kael waited in the corner, back against the wall, watching people shuffle in and out. He looked out of place in the white clinical brightness—like a shadow of something old but calm.
When Amara walked in, hair braided over one shoulder and a canvas bag in hand, he stood without saying anything.
She looked at him, unsure.
"You sure you want to walk out with me?" she asked.
Kael nodded. "Only if you're not walking away from yourself."
Amara smiled. It was small, tired—but real.
"Let's try not to run from either."
Downtown Sidewalk – 10:02 AM
The city was louder than she remembered. Tires over wet asphalt. Coffee carts hissing steam. Voices clashing mid-step.
Amara paused by a mural on the side of a bookstore—a painted pair of hands holding light.
"Used to think all this was too much," she said.
Kael nodded beside her. "Now?"
"It's a lot," she said. "But I don't want to live small anymore."
Tasha's Loft – 11:40 AM
Rin curled up on Tasha's couch with a throw blanket and a half-eaten muffin. Her phone buzzed.
A message from Kael:
She's out. She's okay.
Rin stared at the screen. Then typed:
So are you.
She set the phone down, closed her eyes, and let herself rest.
Selene's Bar – 1:30 PM
Eli was repairing one of the bar stools when Nari came in carrying two new menus.
"Thinking of changing things up," she said.
Eli looked up. "New drinks?"
"New everything."
He stood, wiped his hands. "You sure you're not doing too much too fast?"
Nari raised an eyebrow. "Coming from you?"
They both laughed.
"Fair," he said.
Nova's Apartment – 3:12 PM
Nova updated her board with a printed still from a surveillance cam. Kade stood behind her, arms crossed.
"That's his new face," she said. "He dyed his hair. New ID. New job. But it's him."
Kade nodded. "Then we're close."
Nova didn't look away from the photo. "Let me be the one to knock on that door."
"You will."
Boston Public Library – 5:50 PM
Amara sat in a corner chair of the art section, sketching. Not faces. Not pain.
Just light.
A child across from her watched curiously.
"Are you an artist?" the girl asked.
Amara glanced up. "Sometimes."
The girl giggled. "You draw like one."
Amara smiled.
Maybe she was.
Rooftop – 8:03 PM
The sky was dark velvet now, stars threading between buildings.
Kael and Amara stood side by side at the edge of the roof, tea in hand.
He looked at her.
"You afraid of what happens next?"
She sipped, then set her mug down.
"I'm not afraid," she said. "But I'm not ready to define it either."
Kael nodded. "Then we let it unfold."
She reached for his hand.
"Let's rebuild slow. Let's rebuild true."
And Kael, for once, didn't feel like rushing.