Morning came softly, like any other day, and that was what made it feel strange to Aelara. Nothing looked different. The light slipped through the curtains, warm and quiet, touching the small wooden table, the worn floor, the little things she had held onto for years. Everything was the same. But something inside her had been restless since before sunrise, like a quiet warning she couldn't explain.
She stood at the doorway for a moment, watching the twins. They were already awake, sitting close together, whispering about something. That alone made her pause. They were never this alert so early, not without her waking them. The louder one noticed her first and jumped up instantly, full of energy that felt a little too sharp for the morning.
"Happy birthday!" they said, voice bright, almost too loud for the quiet room.
Aelara smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes fully. "You were supposed to wait for me."
