Sienna woke up, her eyes heavy and sore from the endless tears she had shed. The weight of grief sat on her chest like an immovable stone, making it hard to breathe. She turned to her side, her gaze falling upon Damian, who was still soundly asleep beside her. His even breaths were soothing, a reminder that she was not entirely alone in this cruel world. A weak smile found its way to her lips. She was thankful to have him. He had been her anchor in the storm, the only person holding her together when everything else seemed to crumble. If she ever lost him, she wasn’t sure she could survive it.
She lifted a trembling hand and gently ran her fingers through his dark, tousled hair. For a moment, she allowed herself to take comfort in his presence, to let the warmth of his body next to hers be enough. But as soon as he stirred, she pulled her hand away, regretting that she had disturbed his sleep.