The morning light spilled through the sheer curtains in harsh, jagged stripes, carving sharp lines across the bedroom floor. Tessa’s eyes fluttered open, for a long, hesitant moment, she didn’t move. The space beside her was empty. The sheets had cooled under the morning air, leaving only the faint imprint of the space Raymond had occupied.
Rolling onto her side, she propped herself up on one elbow and glanced toward the door. The quiet of the house was almost suffocating. Her reflection in the hallway mirror caught her attention as she padded softly toward the bathroom. Her hair stuck damply to her forehead, and the faint dark circles were still visible, stubbornly refusing to fade with sleep.
Tessa turned the tap and let the water run hot, watching the steam curl up and fog the mirror.
