Before the world began to shake,there were absences.The kind you don't understand—but you feel.
That night, Lyana was waiting for her brother's returnmore than she realized.
"Come on, just Saturday! Just for an hour, promise," insisted Saya.
Lyana zipped her bag shut in a rush,brushing a strand of hair from her forehead with a distracted hand.
"Hmm… I'll see."
"That 'I'll see' is just a disguised no. Admit it," sighed her friend with a pout.
Lyana answered with a playful smile,then glanced at her phone.
"Already that late?! Sorry—I gotta go!"
She turned sharply and jogged toward her building,her bag bouncing at her hip.
A shiver of anticipation ran through her.
Kael was coming home early today.
He had messaged her that afternoon,and she fully intended to make the most of it.
They'd been spending less time together lately,and tonight she wanted all of him to herself.
She pushed open the building's door and rushed to the elevator.Her eyes locked on the floor indicator:it was rising slowly,pausing at the sixth, then the seventh…
Someone was already in it.
Her fingers tapped impatiently against her thigh.Eighth floor…Pause.Seventh… Sixth… Fifth…
Every second stretched painfully,as if time itself mocked her impatience.
Fourth… Stop.
She exhaled sharply.Forget it.
She spun around and dashed up the stairs two at a time,her heartbeat quickening—from both effort and excitement.
Nearly breathless at the apartment door,she paused a second to catch her breathbefore placing a finger on the keypad.She typed in the code,then pressed her finger to the biometric scanner.
A beep.
The door unlocked with a sharp click.
"Kael! I'm home!"
Silence.
Her smile faded slightly.He'd said he'd be home early…So where was he?
She shut the door and stepped into the living room.
The TV was on, casting a bluish light against the walls.
She knew her brother worked hard.Too hard, just to keep them afloat.He often came home late, exhausted, clothes worn,sometimes stained with dried blood or torn.He always dodged her questions.Answered vaguely.Never went into detail.
"Nothing serious," he'd say.
But she saw the truth in his eyes—the fatigue deepening under them day by day.
Kael almost never broke a promise to her.Except… when safety came first.
So why wasn't he here?
She stepped closer, puzzled.
The news was playing—a serious anchor facing the camera.
"…an unexpected astronomical discovery.The Aeternum comet has raised many questions.Scientists say its trajectory may be shifting slightly…"
She raised an eyebrow.A comet?Right—she'd heard something about it.
But why was the TV on?
Her eyes drifted to the coffee table.A glass of water, half full, sat at the edge.A faint ring of condensation beneath it.
She shivered.That was strange.
No one was home—and that glass hadn't been there this morning.
A noise behind her made her jump.She turned too fast—her foot caught on the rug—
"Ah!"
She fell backward, landing hard on the couch.A brief pause—then laughter burst out of her.
"Pff… Clumsy idiot…"
She sat up, wincing,and rubbed her neck absentlybefore pulling out her phone again.
No new messages.Just the one from earlier:
"I'm finishing early today! Wanna do something tonight? :)"
Her smile faded slowly.
If he'd finished early…why wasn't he home?
Her grip on the phone tightened.
A strange sensation coiled inside her,a weight pressing against her chest.
She looked toward the door,hoping to hear the handle turn any moment.
But only the TV kept her company.
"…an unexplained anomaly.Experts are struggling to understand the sudden change…"
A chill ran down her spine.
Where was Kael?
She paced nervously through the apartment,thoughts racing.
His jacket and shoes were gone.
He hadn't come home.She was sure of it.
She let out a soft sigh.
Not here… again.
A pang of disappointment squeezed her heart,but she forced herself to shake it off.
Maybe something last-minute came up.Maybe he'd be home later…
Yes.That was it.
Her gaze swept over the apartment—until an idea sparked.
This wasn't a bad thing.In fact… it was the perfect opportunity.
She could surprise him with his favorite meal.
If she was lucky,it might even earn her a real smile—not one of those tired, half-hearted smirkshe'd been giving lately.
Without hesitation, she grabbed her bag and headed out into the street,evening air brushing against her skin.
Destination:the neighborhood grocery store—still open at this hour.
Inside, she wandered between the aisles,her fingers brushing the shelves,thinking carefully about what Kael would enjoy most.
He liked simple but flavorful food.Especially well-seasoned meat.
She paused by the butcher's section,debating between several cuts,before picking one she could prepare with her favorite marinade.
Passing the vegetable stand, she frowned slightly.He always made a face at green veggies,but she knew how to sneak them in.
A cheesy gratin should do the trick.She grabbed some potatoes—perfect on the side.
Then, one last stop: desserts.
Kael wasn't into sweets…but he had one weakness:fresh fruit.
She picked out crisp applesand juicy berries,planning to make a light saladwith a touch of honey and lemon.
Satisfied, she checked out and headed home,a bounce in her step.She could already picture Kael's facewhen he saw the meal—and that thought alone lit up her evening.
Back home, Lyana set her bag on the counterand rolled up her sleeves.
No time to waste.
She got right to work,laying out the ingredients one by one.
She lit the stove,let the butter melt slowlybefore adding the potatoes—golden aroma already filling the air.
Then the meat,carefully seared,the spices mingling with the heat.
She set the table with care,choosing their special-occasion plates,folding a napkin just like she'd seen in restaurants.
A small candle.Nothing too formal.Just enough to make it feel like a moment between the two of them.
Then, once everything was ready,she dried her handsand glanced at the wall clock.
He was still gone.
She sat on the couch,tapping idly on her phone.No message from Kael.
She hesitated to text him…then changed her mind.
He'd be back soon.
Time dragged.Endless.
She turned on the TV for distraction.But her eyes kept drifting to the door.
An hour.
Still nothing.
Her expression darkened.Her fingers clenched the edge of the couch.
A vague cold crept up her neck.Her stomach—empty with anticipation minutes ago—now felt heavy.
Something was off.She could feel it.
She jumped up,snatched her phone,opened her chat with Kael.
Where are you?
Message sent.
No reply.
She stared at the screen.
No typing dots.He hadn't even opened it.
Her eyes turned to the perfectly set table.The steaming plate.The candle still burning.The aligned silverware.
Everything felt… frozen.Caught in an unbearable stillness.
Another chill ran through her.
Stronger.
She ran a hand through her hair,trying to calm herself.
Maybe he was just busy.Maybe he got held up.
But why…not a single message?
She dropped back onto the couch,arms crossed over her chest,trying to suppress the growing knot in her gut.
The apartment, once warm and familiar,now felt too big.Too quiet.
Drring.
A sharp noise.Cutting.The landline—forgotten on the entrance table—started ringing.
Shattering the stillness.
Lyana flinched hard,heart hammering in her chest.
For a split second,her brain froze.
Then hope exploded inside her.Sudden.Irrational.
Kael!
She rushed over,nearly tripping on the rug,and answered on the third ring—breathless.
"Hello?!"
A short pause.
"...Lyana? Is this Lyana?I'm… I'm Kael's supervisor.He didn't show up for work this afternoon,and he's not answering his phone.I… I just wanted to make sure he's okay."
The silence that followed echoed in her bones.
"He… he said he'd be home early…"
"So he came back to your place?"
"…No."
Another pause.Heavier still.
"I see…If you hear from him, please tell him to call me."
Click.
The dry snap of the line disconnecting felt brutal.
She stood there,receiver still against her ear,unable to move.
The dull tone slowly replaced the voice—but she didn't hear it anymore.
Her hand trembled as she hung up.The world, now,no longer spun the same.
And in that heavy silence…a thought she refused to acknowledgebrushed the edge of her mind:
What if he's not coming back?
Her heart pounded harder.A strange weight grew in her belly.A mix of fear…and uncertainty.
"No! That's not like him."
She inhaled deeplyand looked out the window.
Outside, night had fallen.The streetlamps cast orange-yellow halos on the pavement.
He's coming home.He's just… delayed…
She repeated it like a mantra,trying to silence the chill racing down her spine.
Her eyes drifted to the TV.
"…anomalous signals detected near the comet.We'll continue to update you as more is uncovered…"
She squinted.Why did she feel like something was wrong?
A sigh escaped her.She shook her headand wiped a trembling hand across her face.
This was ridiculous.She was probably worrying for nothing.
But then—
why did her gut feel so heavy?
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
In a hesitant motion,she roseand walked to Kael's room.
His familiar scent greeted her at the threshold.
She grabbed his pillow,held it tight,and lay down on his bed,seeking invisible comfort.
Her eyelids grew heavy.
Eventually, she fell asleep—a tear still clinging to her cheek.
But outside,the night had never been so dark.
And Kaelhad never been in greater danger.