and now on a dune where the sound of a white noise is rising

With only a few weeks having passed since she first arrived in Darrow, Effy's already seen more than ever saw outside of the tumult of her dreams. The sky takes on a blinding green, a scream rips and tears through the street, glass shatters in the distance and scatters across the pavement like so many diamonds. It's madness, absolute madness, and Effy finds that calm she'd so carefully stitched around herself starting to ravel and disintegrate.

It's the last thing that she wants, but the first thing that she expects, her even expression occasionally crumbling as she makes her way through the streets. She could ask Harley to stay by her side. She could hold onto his hand, grip it more tightly than anyone would expect from thin limbs and a hollow gaze, but the last thing that Effy wants is to force another person to come along as she spins out of control, feeling much like a fallen leaf lost in the wind.

She doesn't quite register every detail as she makes her way into the quiet of a small streetside cafe, breathing in the strong scent of coffee and stepping distantly along with the line. But something about the monotony calms her, and soon Effy finds herself with a tall cup of black coffee in hand, purchased more for the scent and the warmth than anything else. Her phone feels heavy in her pocket, and Effy knows, she knows that if something goes really wrong, she should give Harley a ring.

But for now, she embraces the brief moment of serenity as she stands by the milk and sugar station, reaching for neither just yet, and closing her eyes while she leans her hip against the counter.

One day at a time.