The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. I stirred awake, the warmth of Nicolas’s body still lingering beside me. For a fleeting moment, I let myself believe everything was okay, that the night we shared had somehow mended all the cracks between us. But as I turned over, I found the bed empty.
I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest, and heard the faint sound of movement from the other room. Nicolas was already dressed, his back to me as he adjusted his tie in the mirror by the door.
“You’re leaving?” I asked softly, my voice hoarse from sleep and emotions I couldn’t fully name.
He turned at the sound of my voice, his eyes softening. “I have to, Mel. Stella… she’ll notice if I’m not home this morning.”
The reality of our si
