39

Sienna’s POV

I woke up this morning with a wide smile on my face, whether from a good night’s sleep or the sound of the waves crashing gently in the distance, I didn’t know. Sunlight streamed through the thin white curtains that swayed softly in the sea breeze. Its warmth touched my skin, waking me from a long slumber free of tears or worries.

This small apartment is still quiet. Still new. Still unfamiliar. But it is precisely that unfamiliarity that makes this place feel comforting. No yelling. No demands. No disappointment creeping in between forced affections.

I lifted myself from the bed and sat at the edge, hugging my knees. Outside the window, the beach stretched wide, blue and peaceful. The salty wind slipped in, carrying the scent of the ocean—a scent that reminded me of both freedom and loneliness. But not the suffocating kind. More like... a silence I chose.

I took a deep breath, letting the morning air fill my lungs. It felt clean. Not like the breaths I used to take each