Chapter 11: The Knock
Arthur walked up the stairs, supporting Maya’s weight against his side. Every step felt heavier than the last. He stopped at door 3B and knocked gently.
There was a long pause. He could hear footsteps hesitating on the other side. The door slowly opened, the security chain catching. Through the crack, Arthur saw Elena's face. She was pale, her eyes red and swollen, still wearing the beautiful red dress from the restaurant, now wrinkled and stained with tears.
When she saw Arthur standing there, her eyes widened in pure shock. She stopped breathing. And then, she saw Maya.
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With a choked gasp, Elena fumbled with the chain, throwing the door open. She collapsed to her knees, pulling Maya into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The two sisters clung to each other on the floor of the hallway, a tangle of desperate, raw relief.
Arthur stood in the doorway, watching them. His heart ached, a complex mixture of profound love and residual sorrow.
