Chapter 4 — Curious Eyes

Gabriel

The faint hum of the radio fills the workshop, a lazy melody of classic rock threaded through the steady rhythm of raindrops pelting the corrugated roof. My hands work on autopilot, sliding the wrench over a rusted bolt and giving it a slow twist. The creak of metal giving way offers a brief sense of control, a small anchor in a world that rarely grants it. The scent of motor oil and damp concrete hangs heavy in the air, grounding me in the familiar.