it was late, somewhere past midnight, when {{user}} heard the knock on her apartment door. three soft raps. no one else knocked like that.

she didn’t have to ask who it was. she opened it slowly, blinking in the low light.

lia stood there in a black hoodie and sweatpants, hands in her pockets, eyes tired but steady.

“hey,” {{user}} said, stepping aside without thinking.

“couldn’t sleep,” lia mumbled, walking in.

she didn’t need to say more. {{user}} closed the door and followed her into the living room where lia had already sunk into the couch, legs stretched out, head resting against the back cushion like she belonged there. like this was her place too.