~ Mara ~ I don’t wake up gently. I come back in pieces. First the weight in my body, then the ache, then the sound of a small, uneven breath that doesn’t belong to me. My eyes open slowly, and the room settles into place around me. Hospital walls. Dim light. The steady quiet that only exists after something big has already happened. My head turns slightly, careful this time, and the first thing I see is Cole standing near the window, holding something in his arms like he doesn’t trust the world not to take it. Him. My chest tightens instantly. “Cole,” I whisper, my voice barely there. He turns fast. Too fast for someone trying to stay calm. His eyes find mine, and something in his facial expression changed, like he’s been holding everything in place and just loosened his grip a little. He walks over without saying anything, each step, careful like he’s carrying something fragile enough to break if he moves wrong. “You’re awake,” he says quietly. “I am,” I answer, watc
Last Updated : 2026-05-06 Read more