The Woman in the Blue Coat

“Of course,” I said quickly. “Are you okay?”

There was a pause.

Then a shaky laugh.

“I think… maybe I might be.”

I leaned against the counter.

Outside, snow drifted gently across the yard.

“I haven’t slept properly in weeks,” Denise admitted. “But last night I did.”

Something about that nearly broke me.

Because people talk about survival like it’s dramatic.

Like it’s loud.