Emma stirred awake, the soft morning light filtering through the cabin windows. She turned to see Michael lying beside her, sleeping peacefully. His chest rose and fell with each breath, his face relaxed and content. For a moment, she simply watched him, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside her.
Her thoughts drifted back to Daniel, to the beginning of their relationship. She had been a mess back then, struggling with the shadows of her past, feeling like she wanted to disappear. Daniel had become her rock, first as her best friend, then as her lover. She knew deep down that without him, she wouldn’t be who she was now.
When their marriage fell apart, she pretended to be strong, but inside, she was terrified. She feared slipping back into the dark world she had known before Daniel. It w
