CLAIRE
Monday morning arrived earlier than I expected. I woke up to find Julian already dressed in a dark suit, standing by the window staring out at the city.
"Hey," I said softly, sitting up.
He turned, his face tight with tension. "Morning," he replied.
"How did you sleep?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"I didn't," Julian admitted. "Kept thinking about today."
I got out of bed and walked over to him. "It's going to be hard," I said gently. "But you're ready."
"Am I?" Julian asked, his voice uncertain in a way I rarely heard.
"Yes," I said firmly. "You're strong enough for this."
Julian pulled me into his arms and held on tight. "Thank you for coming with me," he said against my hair.
"Always," I replied.
We got ready in quiet tension, both of us moving carefully
