By the time Seraphina fell asleep, it was almost midnight.She had insisted she wasn't tired.Then she had fallen asleep halfway through reading the same page for the fourth time.The book rested on her chest.One hand was curled protectively over her stomach.The bedside lamp cast a warm light across her face, softening the lines that had appeared over the last few weeks.She looked younger when she slept.Safer.As though her body forgot, for a few hours, that it had been living in a war.I carefully removed the book and pulled the blanket higher over her shoulder.She stirred."Mmm?""Go back to sleep.""I'm not asleep.""You absolutely are.""I was thinking.""You were snoring."One eye opened."I do not snore.""You absolutely do."She smiled without opening her eyes again."I love you."The words were quiet.Unplanned.Completely unconscious.Then she was asleep again.I remained frozen beside the bed.It wasn't the first time she had said it.But it was the first time she had s
Last Updated : 2026-06-19 Read more