Maddie's POV
Morning arrived, painting the sky with the hues of dawn, and with it came a tentative ray of hope. I stirred on the sofa, the stiffness of an uneasy night etched into my bones. The apartment lay in silence, the residue of our shared pain hanging in the air.
As I rose from the sofa, a dull ache echoed within me, both physical and emotional. The weight of the night lingered, but with the morning light came a resolve to face the challenges ahead. Gathering myself, I moved towards the bedroom door as it remained closed, a tangible barrier between the life we had known and the uncertain future that awaited. A mixture of trepidation and determination guided my steps.
As I entered the room, Mariko looked up, his eyes carrying the remnants of a sleepless night. He was sitting at th
