Chapter 1: The ArrivalThe front door clicked shut behind Jordan. Alex stood in the kitchen, wiping the same spot on the counter for the third time. Her chest felt tight with a familiar, quiet ache. She had been happily married to Jordan for four years. It was comfortable, safe, and predictable. Lately, Alex had caught herself wondering if this was all there was. If the spark had simply dimmed.Jordan’s love was steady, like a well-worn blanket. Warm and reliable, but no longer the fire that once kept Alex awake at night.“Riley’s here,” Jordan called from the hallway. Her voice sounded exhausted after another brutal twelve-hour shift at the hospital. “Try not to let her talk your ear off about her latest adventure, okay? I just want a quiet night.”Alex forced a smile as she stepped into the living room. “Of course. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”The doorbell rang.Jordan opened the door, and the world tilted.Riley stood on the threshold like a mirror image that had stepped out of a fever
Read more