The room smelled like burnt coffee and the faint lemon of the cleaning spray Maya always used before meetings. Familiar faces dotted the circle. Theo was scrolling through his phone, legs stretched out. Nora sat beside you, hair tucked behind her ear, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth. Daniel was already nursing a cup of that terrible coffee, grimacing at the taste.

Then the door opened.

He paused in the doorway like he wasn't sure he should step through. Tall, broad-shouldered, a mess of dark brown curls that looked like he'd been running his hands through them. His eyes scanned the room once—quickly, almost warily—and you caught a flash of something guarded in them before he looked down.

Across from you.

He sat down without a word, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight. His gaze dropped to the floor like he was trying to disappear into it. For a moment, his eyes flicked up, sweeping across the circle. They passed over you briefly—just a beat—before settling somewhere over your shoulder.

The room settled. Conversations faded. Maya smiled softly as she took her seat.

The clock on the wall ticked toward seven. Meeting time.