Numbness

Lily felt a strange numbness as she walked through the door of the apartment she shared with Cage. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—confusion, sadness, and anger all rolled into one. She replayed her mother's words over and over in her head. The shock had yet to wear off. Her real father? How could that be true? And why now, of all times, did her mother decide to reveal it?

She hadn't even realized she'd left the stove on, her thoughts so consumed by the encounter in the alley. The acrid smell of burning food filled the apartment, but Lily remained in a daze, staring at nothing in particular, her heart thudding heavily in her chest.

Cage arrived home from work, tired but glad to finally be home. The moment he opened the door, he was hit by the unmistakable scent of something burning. Panic surged through him as he rushed toward the kitchen. The sight of a pot on the stove, smoke billowing from it, made his heart race even faster.