26.

Noah’s weariness didn’t prevent him from contemplating what Jimmy Guerrero had told him about Grace, the video he had watched from her dashcam, which led him to reflect on the potential pain she had endured.

It had been on his mind for quite a while and had been there since forever, eating at him.

As he glanced around, he noticed Grace’s absence but saw the meal she had left for him; a kind gesture she had repeated over the past few days since she's been living here. While Noah appreciated her thoughtfulness, he felt the need to tell her that she didn’t have to go to such lengths just because she felt the need to repay him in a way.

He walked to the counter and smiled, before lifting the plate covering the food and he discovered the food was still warm. Setting his bag down on the kitchen floor, he sat down to eat, feeling both famished and fatigued. Prioritizing his hunger, he intended to ponder other matters afterward. Though the sun had emerged, Noah could sense that rain might