She hesitated at the stairs, then placed one to catch the bottom steps—just in case. When she finished, she stood in the middle of the living room and looked around. Everything looked normal. And yet she felt like she’d poisoned something. Back in the bedroom, she slid under the covers beside Marcus. He was asleep, mouth slightly open, brow relaxed for once.
Julie stared at the ceiling and listened to the house settle—the gentle creaks, the hum of the fridge, the ordinary sounds that used to mean safety. Now they felt like witnesses. Her phone buzzed softly with the camera app’s first notification.