(Sophie)
The night was quiet. The waves outside drifted through the open balcony door, soft enough to calm my thoughts but clear enough to remind me we were far from home. The air smelled of salt, and the faint sound of the sea made me feel safe.
Alexander and I had spent the day together without rushing. We had eaten, laughed, talked about the smallest things, and for the first time in years, I did not feel like I had to fight to breathe. I felt free.
Now we were in bed, the lamps still on, casting a warm glow over the room. I lay on my side, facing him, my hand resting against his chest. He looked at me like he always did, like he saw me and nothing else.
“We have not been together long,” I said softly, “but it feels like we have known each other for years.”
He smiled, brushing his
