WHEN PEACE FEELS STRANGE
Peace felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Aria noticed it first in the mornings. No alarms. No sudden messages. No fear pressing against her chest the moment she opened her eyes.
Just light.
Sunlight came through the thin curtains and rested on the wall. The room smelled of fresh air and clean sheets. Outside, birds made small sounds, soft and unsure, as if they were also learning what peace meant.
Aria sat up in bed and listened.
Nothing.
No danger.
No countdown.
It felt strange.
Kael was still asleep beside her. His breathing was slow and steady. His face looked softer now, less sharp than it had been during the war. The lines of pain were fading. Healing was winning.
She watched him for a long moment.
“You’re really here,” she whispered.
He shifted slightly, th
