CLAIREI woke up before my alarm and for a few seconds, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, not moving, not thinking. Then I heard a faint sound from the kitchen, cabinets opening, the low hum of the coffee machine. Julian.The word settled in my chest slowly, like it needed a second to make sense, he was back. I pushed the covers off and sat up, running a hand through my hair. The room felt the same, nothing had changed, and yet…I swung my legs off the bed and stood, grabbing a light sweater before stepping out into the hallway, the smell of coffee hit me first, fresh and strong.I walked into the kitchen and found him standing by the counter, sleeves rolled up, one hand braced against the edge while the other poured coffee into a mug. He glanced up when he heard me.“Morning.”“Morning,” I said, my voice still soft from sleep.There was a brief pause. Not awkward. Just… aware, like we both noticed it at the same time. Julian turned back to the counter and reached for another
Last Updated : 2026-05-14
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