NIKOLAI
Dawn slipped through the curtains like a silent intruder. The light was soft, golden, almost merciful, but inside me there was no calm. Only that heavy feeling of having crossed an invisible line, one from which there is no return.
Zoe slept beside me with her angelic face that for the first time emanated peace and not just biting remarks. Her messy hair covered part of her face, and a strand of light traced the curve of her bare shoulder. She breathed slowly, deeply, with the rhythm of someone who has finally let go of fear, even if just for a few hours.
I could spend hours looking at her like a fool. I had never seen a woman as beautiful as her. She seemed like a miracle.
The silence was absolute, except for the beating of her heart against my chest. I couldn't remember the l
