Just as the thought threatened to consume me, the lock turned, and Nicolas walked in, a soft smile playing on his lips. Relief flooded through me, and I couldn’t help but feel as though he’d sensed my unease, returning just when I needed him most. He came over, pulling me into his arms, and for a moment, the world faded away.
“You’re here,” I murmured, my fingers tracing the familiar lines of his face.
He kissed my forehead, his voice warm. “I missed you, Mel.”
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s warmth. As we sat together, he told me about his day, filling the empty spaces with stories that made me forget my doubts. Being here with him, feeling the strength of his presence, reassured me in a way that words never could.
Later that night, as we lay in bed, Nicolas n
