They reached Stephanie's place right before the curfew.
"It's always like this," she said softly after ensuring the door clicked close. Even though the one making her constantly on edge was no longer in this world, she still needed to be on guard 24/7. Who knew what brewed under the radar, especially now with the tense undercurrent of the task force. Sometimes what I missed from before time were the simple things in life. That you could go home however late you wanted to be. That your friends would still be there next week or the week after."
Mark removed his light jacket and draped it over the sofa, pouring some water for him and Stephanie. His gaze calculating as he spoke, "It's because you've tasted the sweet nectar of freedom now that you constantly compare the present with the past."
"No, it's not constantly," she emphasised. "Resilience doesn't win in this race. Not when too many people left us. And you, what's the matter? There's something in your mind."
