“Ylva? Wake up... Ylva?”
“Hmmm?” Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes open. They were practically glued shut with sleep sand and drier than usual. Maybe from the midnight clover essence?
“Hey.”
Ryoko’s face appeared above me. Her hair cascaded down her shoulder and caressed my cheeks, almost like a curtain of privacy.
“Hello.”
A smile stretched across her features, one that awoke a warmth in my stomach. I could get used to waking up to this.
“How are you feeling?” Ryoko asked.
“Not too bad. No nightmares, at least, I don’t think so.”
“That’s good.” She handed me a glass of water from my nightstand and brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m glad.”
“Did you really stay with me the whole time?”
Her cheeks blushed red. “Yes, of course.”
“Thank you.”
“I promised, didn’t I?”
I
