Hailey’s POV
Morning came slowly, breaking through the heavy curtains in thin streaks of gold. The faint chirping of birds outside mingled with the soft hum of the rain that had continued through the night. My body felt weak but warm, cocooned beneath the thick blanket. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was until I opened my eyes and saw Roy sitting in the chair beside my bed.
He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, one hand resting against his jaw as if he hadn’t slept at all. The soft light touched his face, drawing out the sharp lines of his features and the quiet exhaustion in his eyes.
When he noticed I was awake, he straightened. “Hey,” he said gently. “How are you feeling?”
His voice carried that familiar roughness, the kind that brushed softly over my nerves.
“I’m
