My Last And My Only
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    Chapter 77: What Remains When Everything Stops

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    The first Saturday after the University Fair felt strangely unfamiliar.
    For nearly two weeks, Aiah had been waking before sunrise, checking committee messages before even getting out of bed, and rushing to campus with a camera bag heavier than her backpack. Deadlines had become routine. Sleep had become optional.
    Now...
    There was nothing waiting for her.
    No alarms.
    No reminders.
    No urgent calls from the Documentation Committee.
    Only the quiet morning sunlight spilling across the floor of her bedroom.
    She opened her eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling.
    For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to do absolutely nothing.
    It felt... nice.
    The house was already awake by the time she stepped out of her room.
    The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of utensils clinking against plates.
    Ivy stood by the stove making pancakes while humming softly to herself.
    Across the dining table, Gwen sat reading a book, a mug of coffee resting beside her.
    She looked up briefly when she heard footsteps.
    "Good morning."
    "Morning," Aiah replied, tying her hair into a loose ponytail.
    Ivy glanced over her shoulder.
    "Look who's alive."
    "I've always been alive."
    "Barely."
    Aiah laughed.
    "I survived."
    "You did."
    Ivy smiled warmly.
    "And now you're making up for weeks of sleep."
    "I don't think one Saturday is enough."
    "It isn't."
    Gwen closed her book.
    "You looked like a zombie every time you came home."
    "I appreciate the concern."
    "It wasn't concern."
    Aiah raised an eyebrow.
    "It was observation."
    That earned a laugh from both Aiah and Ivy.
    Some things never changed.
    Before they could begin breakfast, Aiah's phone vibrated on the table.
    She looked at the screen.
    A smile appeared before she even answered.
    Chico Calling.
    She picked up immediately.
    "Well... look who finally remembered I exist."
    A familiar laugh answered her.
    "I was about to say the same thing."
    "You've been impossible to reach."
    "I've been busy."
    "I noticed."
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