The sky was heavy that day, pressing snow against the cottage windows until the world outside became a gray smear. Lauren watched it thicken from the kitchen, stirring soup that filled the air with thyme and warmth. The radio on the counter hissed static between weather alerts.
“Blizzard conditions worsening,” the voice crackled. “Travel not advised. Stay indoors.” Lauren glanced at her phone—no bars, just a faint X where the connection should be. The cottage felt snug, firelight dancing on the walls, yet the storm wrapped it like a hand closing tight.