MasukEdwin’s POVThe house by the water had become the rhythm I measured my days by.I woke to the familiar weight of Daniel’s arm draped across my waist, his palm warm and possessive over my stomach. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, breath steady and deep against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting the room in soft gold. The distant crash of waves against the shore provided the constant, soothing backdrop that had slowly become part of my nervous system proof that peace could exist after chaos.For a long moment I simply lay there, letting the safety of it all sink in. No racing heart. No checking my phone for new threats. Just the quiet certainty that I was loved, wanted, and home.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he could sense me watching. I traced the line of his jaw with one fingertip, feeling the light morning
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become the rhythm of my days, the steady heartbeat beneath everything else.I woke slowly to the familiar warmth of Daniel’s body curled protectively around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and even against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves rolling onto the shore provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become woven into the fabric of our healing.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward like he could sense
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had stopped being just a beautiful place to heal. It had become the foundation of the life I was finally learning to trust.I woke slowly to the familiar weight of Daniel’s arm draped across my waist, his palm spread possessively over my stomach. His chest was warm and solid against my back, his breath steady and deep against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant rhythm of waves rolling onto the shore provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become woven into the fabric of our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, letting the peace settle deep into my bones. No racing thoughts. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become more than four walls and a view. It had become the place where the fractures in my soul were slowly knitting back together, one sunrise at a time.I woke to the steady warmth of Daniel’s body curled protectively around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and even against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant rhythm of waves provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become the background music to our healing.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing thoughts. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corn
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become more than a beautiful escape. It had become the place where broken pieces were slowly mending into something stronger, something whole.I woke to the now-familiar feeling of Daniel’s body wrapped around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and steady against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves provided a constant, soothing rhythm that had become the soundtrack to our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward lik
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had stopped feeling like a sanctuary and had become the foundation of something I never thought I’d have — a real, steady life.I woke to the now-familiar warmth of Daniel’s body wrapped around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and steady against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves provided a constant, soothing rhythm that had become the soundtrack to our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward like he could sense me
Edwin’s POVThe morning after felt like waking up inside someone else’s skin.I lay in my own bed, staring at the ceiling cracks I’d memorized as a kid, the same ones I used to count when Mom’s coughing kept me awake. The apartment smelled like burnt toast from Ruby’s attempt at breakfast and the
Edwin’s POVThe envelope burned a hole in my pocket all the way up to the forty-fifth floor.I hadn’t opened it again after tearing the business card inside. I didn’t need to. Victor’s words were already branded behind my eyes: *A clean slate. A job where your past stays buried.* The way he’d said
Edwin’s POVThe cemetery was smaller than I remembered.It sat on the edge of the city, tucked behind a row of old oak trees that had stood longer than most of the buildings around it. The grass was too green for the season, the kind of artificial green that came from sprinklers and money. Rows of
Edwin’s POVThe hospital room smelled like antiseptic and the faint sweetness of the applesauce the nurse had left on the tray. Mom was propped up against three pillows, the oxygen tube resting under her nose like a thin silver lifeline. Her eyes were half-lidded, but when I walked in she smiled ,







