The morning after

The morning light filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the quiet house. It was Saturday, and the usual hustle of the weekday was absent, allowing its occupants a rare moment of stillness. Skylar and Emilio were the first to stir, both reluctant to leave the comfort of their beds after the stressful events of the previous day.

Eventually, Skylar rose, wrapping herself in a robe and padding quietly out of her room. As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Emilio emerging from his own room, looking equally groggy.

“Morning,” she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Morning,” Emilio replied, his tone equally flat. They both knew they needed their morning coffee to kick-start their systems.

They descended the stairs together in silence, their footsteps a soft thud on the carpeted steps. In the kitchen, Skylar automatically went to the coffee maker while Emilio started gathering the ingredients for breakfast.

As the coffee brewed, filling the kitche