Avery:
I woke up to the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek, the soft thrum of his heartbeat in my ear. The sheets were tangled around our legs, the morning light spilling over the room in quiet gold. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to break the stillness, the rare peace of knowing he was safe, right here, alive and mine.
His arm was slung heavy around my waist, skin warm, fingers still curled protectively like even in sleep he wasn’t letting me go.
Last night felt like a dream. One I’d begged for, cried over, and clung to with shaking hands. I’d tasted fear so sharp it burned, and he came home to pull it from my throat with kisses and whispered promises.
I tilted my head just enough to see him—lashes dark against his cheeks, hair a mess from my hands, lips still pa
