The faint ticking of the wall clock blended with the low hum of the apartment, a backdrop of stillness that made the space feel almost suspended in time. Outside, the sun dipped low, casting a warm orange hue across the sky, but the heavy fluorescent light inside dulled the natural glow, painting the room in a cooler tone that clashed gently with the late afternoon warmth.
The door clicked open.
Haneul stepped inside, cheeks flushed from running around, a thin sheen of sweat still clinging to his brow. His steps were light, his sneakers slipping off with practiced ease. He'd had his fill of laughter and games, but the moment he crossed the threshold, his posture subtly shifted—playtime ended, and his sense of responsibility returned. His eyes flicked across the room, taking in the quiet, the stillness, the comforting sense that everything was, for now, okay.
