Brunch

In the end, Daphne did not find the courage within her to open that door. She sat there with her back leaning against the wood, listening to Atticus as he spoke to himself. The entire time, she didn't answer.

And he didn't persist.

"I'll have Sirona swap rooms with me tonight," he said. Defeat laced every word of the sentence, his voice sounding much heavier than usual. "Good night, Daphne."

Only after Daphne was sure that Atticus had left did she finally unlock the door and retreated to bed. Sirona entered nearly an hour later but by then, Daphne had already curled under the covers, refusing to raise her head even though she clearly heard Sirona enter.

She didn't need to either. Sirona was fully aware that Daphne was in no mood to talk and she simply silently arranged her pillows and covers on the couch before lying down to rest for the night. Daphne lay on her bed, awake and alert even as she heard Sirona's soft snores pierce through the empty room.