Chapter 4 — Frayed Edges

Ethan

The rhythmic patter of rain against the workshop’s wide, dusty windows muffled the world outside. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sawdust and varnish, a combination that grounded Ethan even as it pressed on his chest. The workshop—the one place in Clearwater Bay where he felt any semblance of control—was unusually cluttered. Half-finished projects leaned haphazardly against the walls, while tools had strayed from their meticulously assigned places, a quiet testament to his restless mind.