The clock on the wall ticked away the minutes, each second a silent protest against the stillness that filled the room. Anna, lost in her thoughts, barely registered the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. She was in a trance, her eyes fixated on the flickering images of a mundane TV show that played out its scripted drama for an audience of one. Her toes curled slightly as they grazed the plush rug beneath her chair, the fabric's gentle embrace a stark contrast to the tension coiled in her body. Her husband, Jack, entered the room, his eyes scanning the space as if searching for a hint of what was to come. The air grew thick with anticipation, a silent crescendo [...]