Morning came slowly, creeping in through the curtains in muted shades of gray. The fire had long since died out, leaving behind only a faint scent of smoke and the lingering warmth that barely touched the chill in the air. I shifted beneath the blanket, my body stiff from sleeping curled up on the couch. Every joint in my body protested as I moved, the discomfort a reminder of just how exhausted I had been the night before.
For a moment, I had forgotten where I was. The weight of exhaustion made my mind hazy, and for a fleeting second, I could have believed I was somewhere else—somewhere safer, somewhere simpler. But the quiet presence in the room reminded me that reality was much different now.
I turned my head slightly, catching sight of Nolan. He was still here, exactly where I had la
