The morning light grew brighter, and it was already Irene’s turn to rotate the watch. She was still sleepy, but she still went to Jackson to exchange shifts.
“Good morning, princess,” Jackson said, his lips curved with a smile, slightly teasing her.
“Morning, Jack,” answered Irene as she sat beside him. “It’s my turn now. You can sleep.”
“Maybe later,” Jackson told her, his gaze fixated on the sky. “Thank you for believing in me, Irene. Since day one.”
He added, “You don’t know how much it meant to me.”
Irene smiled in response. Then, for the first time, she reached out for Jackson’s hand, as if she was passing the warmth of her skin onto his.
“I believed you because you proved your worth to us,” Irene said, her voice laced with sincerity. “And you never let us feel left behind. You
