(February 28, 2025)

 Mhea danced their way over to the fridge, the notes from the stereo drifted throughout the room, bringing their usual cheer and energy into the waning afternoon. Inside the fridge, dinner awaited—the chicken they’d had marinating all afternoon. The scent of spices joined the swell of music, creating a symphony of the senses, and Mhea shimmied back over to the kitchen counter.

The window out of their kitchen showed them a world at peace. A bright, sunny day; a soft breeze through the trees… and a tower?

Mhea’s hands froze over their food as they leaned forward to stare out the window. Five years living here and they had never seen that tower before.