Willow sat in the back of the cab for a moment after closing the door, hands folded loosely in her lap as the city slid past the window. The driver pulled away from the curb smoothly, merging into traffic without comment, and she let herself breathe for the first time since leaving the building.
Her reflection hovered faintly in the glass, composed and calm, still carrying the warmth of what had just unfolded. She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, grounding herself in the present and allowing the tension she had carried for hours to finally loosen. For the first time in days, she did not feel rushed or suspended.
She reached for her phone.
Lorrylne answered before the second ring finished.
"Well," Lorrylne said, her voice already carrying expectation, "judging by the timing, I'm guessing it worked."
Willow smiled, the sound of it soft and genuine. "It worked."
There was a pause on the other end, not for drama but for relief settling into place.
