The hallway was darker than Don remembered.
Not that it mattered. His footsteps knew the way. Soft thuds against the carpet, one after another until he reached the familiar door—still slightly ajar from earlier.
He nudged it open and stepped inside.
The bed sat neatly made, a few manuals still stacked on the desk beside a glass of water long gone lukewarm. A small lamp glowed faintly in the corner, casting long shadows that didn't bother him.
He didn't go for the bed right away.
Instead, he sat on the edge, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely. His body was tired—there was no denying that—but his mind wasn't ready to shut down. It spun too fast, cycling through the day's scenes like a film on loop.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The screen lit up immediately.
[No local network detected. Maintain satellite connection?]
He tapped "Yes" without hesitation.
The connection stabilized in seconds.
Two names flashed at the top: Elle. Gary.
