One night the congregation received direction to reduce contact to only what was necessary and to remain especially discreet. Samuel read the message twice before deleting it.

The room felt colder after that.

It had begun.

In the following days, ordinary sounds took on new meaning. A slow car outside. Footsteps near the porch. A knock from a delivery driver that made Nathan look up too fast.

Samuel did everything he could to keep the home from becoming ruled by nerves. He checked the curtains. He reviewed emergency arrangements. He spoke to Nathan gently, prayed more specifically, and kept family study going even when his own mind was tired.