Morning light filtered softly through the glass. Damien stirred, blinking against the brightness. For the first time in a long while, he’d slept in—deep, uninterrupted—and felt an unfamiliar sense of peace.
His eyes fell on the empty space beside him. He got up, freshened up, and slipped into a T-shirt and shorts. As he stepped out of the bedroom, the soft clatter of pots and pans drifted from the kitchen. Drawn by the sound, he moved closer—and froze, captivated by the sight of her.
Sunlight spilled across the cabin, streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and casting everything in a warm, golden glow. Outside, the forest stretched endlessly, serene and untouched, a quiet majesty surrounding them.
Maya’s back was to him, she moved around the kitchen in one of his shirts, the ove
