Chapter 41

Megra

The sharp, strong smell of smoke wakes me up. My eyes are still closed, and I am still so sleepy. I reach out for Nathaniel, but my hand only finds cold sheets. Panic bubbles up as I force myself out of bed, my mind racing. Where is he? What the hell is happening?

I stumble out of the bedroom, the smoke getting thicker with every step. My heart pounds as I rush towards the kitchen. There, amidst the haze, I see Nathaniel frantically waving a dish towel at the smoke detector, trying to clear the air.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I shout, my voice a mix of fear and disbelief. “Are you trying to burn down my home?”

Nathaniel looks over at me, his face a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “I was just trying to make you breakfast,” he says, laughing. “I didn’t realize how hard it actually is.”

Despite the chaos, I can’t help but laugh. It’s a sound that’s part relief and part happiness. I rush to open the doors and windows, letting the cool morning air in to chase away the smoke.

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