For the first few seconds after I opened my eyes, I wasn’t entirely certain I was awake. The room was quiet. Not the oppressive silence of unconsciousness, but a peaceful one. Soft, warm, real. My gaze drifted toward the chair beside my bed. Claire was asleep, her head rested against the back of the chair at an awkward angle that would no doubt leave her neck aching later. A strand of dark hair had escaped the loose knot at the back of her head and fallen across her cheek. Our hands were still intertwined. Even in sleep, she hadn’t let go. A smile tugged at my lips. Not because I was happy, but because I was grateful. For the first time in years, Claire wasn’t looking at me with hurt in her eyes. She wasn’t looking at me with disappointment, resentment or even guarded professionalism. She simply looked… peaceful with me. I let myself memorize her. The faint shadows beneath her eyes, the small crease between her brows that refused to disappear, even wh
Last Updated : 2026-07-03 Read more