The early spring morning sunlight broke through the gap in our bedroom curtains, falling right onto the pillow. I blinked slowly, adjusting to the light, before my consciousness fully returned.
The first thing I felt was warmth.
A sturdy, heavy arm was wrapped around my waist, pulling my back tightly against someone's chest. Steady, warm breaths tickled the nape of my neck. The room smelled of sandalwood from his body wash, clean cotton sheets, and something that was unmistakably Julian.
Julian. My husband.
The word still felt foreign on my tongue, but it was also the most beautiful word I could say. Husband.
I turned my body slowly so as not to wake him. Julian was still sound asleep. His face, which usually looked serious when he painted, now looked incredibly peaceful. His curly ha
