Morning arrived gently, as if it had learned their rhythm and decided not to disrupt it. Lena woke with the sensation of having slept all the way through herself not just her body, but her thoughts, her old reflexes, her quiet fears. She lay still, eyes open, listening to the muted sounds of the apartment. Somewhere below, a door opened and closed. A car passed, tires whispering against the road.Beside her, Eli shifted and exhaled, still half-asleep. She watched the rise and fall of his chest, noticing how natural it felt to witness without interpretation. There had been a time when observation always came with a question attached, What does this mean? Where is this going?Now it came cleanly. Present. Enough.She slipped out of bed and moved into the kitchen. The floor was cool beneath her feet. She opened the window slightly, letting in a thin ribbon of air that carried the faint scent of morning dust, leaves, something newly warmed by light.As the kettle heated, Lena leaned again
Last Updated : 2026-01-28 Read more