Sitting Alone Through the Night

Avery Miller found herself squatting by his bed, her hand still near his ear, perhaps overwhelmed by her own weariness, she eventually dozed off at the bedside.

In the middle of the night, Ethan Montgomery shifted, feeling something beneath his head, and upon opening his eyes, he saw her, asleep at the edge of his bed. 

Her features were relaxed, a faint trace of tears on her face. 

Had she been crying? 

He reached out, gently touching the dried tracks of her tears, observing her peaceful face, a complex emotion unexpectedly filling his heart, a fleeting sense of happiness, tranquility, and perhaps even a hint of eternity.

Suddenly frightened by his own emotions, he withdrew his hand, his gaze lingering on her innocent sleeping face, feeling a turmoil within. 

Was this woman capable of ensnaring hearts?