CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE - The Day That Everything Stops

The next morning, Nia woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of movement in her kitchen. For a moment, disoriented, she thought it might be Leon. But then the events of the previous day came flooding back. She padded into the kitchen to find Melissa at the stove, flipping pancakes. "Good morning, sunshine," Melissa said with a warm smile. "How about some breakfast?" As they ate, Melissa gently but firmly outlined a plan to help Nia regain her footing. "We'll start small," she said. "Today, how about we get you dressed and take a short walk around the block? Some fresh air will do you good." Nia nodded, feeling both apprehensive and grateful. The simple act of putting on clean clothes and running a brush through her hair felt like a monumental task, but Melissa's encouraging presence made it manageable. The fresh air did indeed feel foreign on Nia's skin as they stepped outside. The late autumn sun was warm on her face, a stark contrast to the perpetual darkness of her apartment.