THE KNOCK     A house wrapped in stillness. The quiet amplifies the soft creaking of floorboards as an 18-year-old boy enters his dimly lit bedroom. A large bag hangs from his shoulder, and fatigue pulls at his face. He throws the bag onto the floor carelessly. The thud it makes sounds louder than it should, but he doesn’t give it much thought. Sighing, he closes the door, walks into the adjoining bathroom, and turns on the shower. Steam fills the small space as he washes away the day’s exhaustion. His mind begins to drift—first to mundane things, then to