Painful change

The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtain, warming Athena's still-sleeping face. The air in the room felt calm, almost too calm, unlike usual. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, she immediately found Asher lying beside her, propped on his side, silently watching her.

Athena blushed, realizing she wasn't wearing anything under the blanket that was wrapped around her body.

"Asher…" she mumbled, quickly wiping her tired face and turning away. "How long have you been awake?"

Asher didn't answer right away. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and calm, yet hollow. "I didn't sleep."

Athena let out a small laugh, trying to ease the nervous flutter in her chest. "Don't joke like that. No way you stayed up all night."

"I'm not joking," he said, eyes still fixed on her. "I really didn't sleep. I couldn't."