The weight of tomorrow hung heavy over me. Sleep was a distant memory, a luxury I couldn't afford. My mind raced, replaying the day's events. The Queen's words of comfort, though well-intentioned, did little to soothe my troubled soul.
I tossed and turned, each thought a dagger piercing my heart. The looming threat of loss cast a long shadow over my future. The possibility of losing Aiden, Calix, or Easton was a nightmare I couldn't shake. The weight of their sacrifice, should it come to that, was unbearable.
I closed my eyes, trying to find solace in the darkness. But even in the quiet of the night, the echoes of their words rang in my ears. Their unwavering determination and their selfless love filled me with both awe and dread. I knew I had to be strong, to be the leader they needed me to be. But the fear, the doubt, it was always there, a constant companion.
Aiden's groggy voice broke through the silence. "Did you sleep at all?"