Vivienne’s POV
After Julian left, I remained in the hallway longer than necessary. Part of it was the pain in my ankle, but that was not the real reason. Something inside my chest felt heavy and unsettled, as if his presence had stirred a quiet part of me that was not ready to be touched.
The house felt too still after he was gone.
When I finally made my way back to the bedroom, each step reminded me of my weakness, of how fragile my body had become. I lay down only intending to rest for a moment, but the silence wrapped itself around me like a weight and pulled me under.
I did not resist.
Sleep came quickly, without dreams, without thought.
When I woke, the light in the room had softened. The sharp brightness of noon had faded into something quieter, something distant. Afternoon ha
