The first light of dawn slipped into the chamber, soft and hesitant, as if afraid to disturb the silence wrapped around us. My lashes fluttered against the weight of sleep, and slowly, my eyes opened to a golden haze. For a moment, I lay unmoving, unsure if I was still dreaming.

It was then I felt it—his face nestled into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin, each exhale brushing me like a whispered prayer. A shiver coursed through me, not of cold, but of tenderness I could not contain. My lips curved into a smile without my realizing it.