Amelia stepped into the house, finally steady after the emotional rollercoaster of the night. The weight of everything she'd learned still hung heavy, but her tears had dried. Though her eyes were puffy and red, the dim lighting worked in her favor, masking the evidence of her breakdown. Inside, she hoped for some solitude to process everything, but as she entered her bedroom, she saw Nick was already there.
The soft click of the light switch filled the quiet space, followed by the faint glow of the bedside lamp. "You're home. Everything alright? I almost drove down to the lab because I was worried," Nick said, his voice filled with concern as he crossed the room to meet her. He gently wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Everything's fine," Amelia responded, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "I might need to stay late for the next few days. There's a lot piling up at work."