The fan clicked like a
slow metronome, and Eli
lay awake, wondering why
his body could be so
tired while his mind
refused to rest. The
streetlight outside turned
the ceiling into a pale
gray sea.
He did not try to fix
himself. He did not
search for reasons. He
simply lay there, letting
the exhaustion be what it
was — a body that had
carried too much, finally
asking to be noticed.
Somewhere in the
apartment, a refrigerator
hummed. Eli closed his
eyes. Not to sleep, not
yet. Just to rest.
That was enough.