(José’s POV)Morning sunlight pours through the high windows of my studio apartment. It spills in thick golden waves across the cluttered canvases and the paint-splattered floor. I wake up stiff, my back aching from another night crashed on the worn couch. The air carries the sharp bite of turpentine mixed with the earthy depth of drying oil paint. Underneath it all lingers the soft floral trace of Hailey’s perfume. She was here last night, and the scent clings to everything. This is my new rhythm, the one I’ve carved out since Lily walked away. I stretch slowly. My joints pop. The faded cotton of my old shirt brushes against my skin like a familiar friend.My phone buzzes on the rickety side table. The screen lights up with a text from Hailey. It reads, “Morning, babe. Coffee at yours?” A small smile pulls at the corners of my mouth. A quiet sense of normalcy settles over me like a warm blanket.I roll off the couch. The cool hardwood bites into the soles
Last Updated : 2025-12-02 Read more