The morning after Jesse's wedding, Maya woke with a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. The sun was streaming through the curtains, the birds were singing outside, and Knox was still asleep beside her, his arm draped across her waist. She lay there for a long moment, listening to his steady breathing, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. The room was bathed in soft golden light, and she could see the dust motes dancing in the air. She could feel the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the weight of his arm anchoring her to the present. She felt safe, loved, and completely at home. The weight of the past had finally lifted, replaced by a lightness that made her feel like she was floating. She could hear the distant sound of a truck on the highway, the cheerful chirping of
