A few hours later, Alexander, his body still conditioned by years of strict routine, woke up precisely at 7:30 AM. His eyes fluttered open to the soft light of the morning creeping through the thick curtains. For a moment, he simply lay there, still submerged in the remnants of sleep. But then, the conversation with his father came rushing back to him. What was it that they had been talking about last night? The words floated at the edges of his mind, elusive, refusing to take shape. The thought lingered, nagging him as he pushed himself to sit up, his muscles stiff from a restless night.
Without wasting any more time on idle speculation, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up, stretching his body into its usual, disciplined movements. He made his way to the bathroom, the hum of the house barely audible.