Samuel stepped in beside Sasha and began helping with breakfast. Plates. Napkins. A second pot of coffee. It felt useful, and Sasha appreciated it. But his thoughts were split almost immediately.

Every small task he finished reminded him of the one still waiting.

When he finally sat down to review his notes, the room had changed. Nathan needed help finding socks. The clock had advanced too far. The peace of the morning had thinned into schedule.

He read the material, but his thoughts skipped over it instead of sinking in.

At the meeting, he did his best.

But afterward, he knew the problem had not been the lack of time.

It had been the lack of order.