As she succumbed to his warm embrace, she suddenly became aware of the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Gasping for air, she clutched at her pounding heart, feeling the world spin around her.
"Melody. Are you okay?"
"I... I'm fine. I just need to lie down for a minute."
For a moment, it felt as though he was watching her like he was seeing her for the first time, studying her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into the moment, hoping that the whirlwind of emotions would soon settle.
Melody woke up several hours later as the sun was coming up. The heaviness in her head had slightly gone away, and she felt a little bit better. She sat up in bed and looked around the room for a moment. It was already noon as the light was seeping through the windows.