The next morning, Liam woke up with a deep, genuine smile resting on his face.
For the first time in months, his mind wasn't filled with multiple branching thoughts.
He lay in bed for a few minutes, listening to the rhythmic, mechanical ticking of the analog watch Daniel had given him. It was a simple sound and it was exactly what he needed.
He got out of bed and walked to the bathroom to prepare for the day.
He had a highly specific list of things to take care of today. The terrestrial board was set, the government pressure had been neutralized through bureaucratic attrition, and his inner circle was secure.
It was time to pivot back to the cosmic scale. He intended to accept Tiamat's invitation immediately after tying up a few remaining loose ends on Earth.
