Morning unfolded slowly over the ranch, as if the day had decided not to rush into existence. A thin veil of mist still drifted across the fields, softening the fences in the distance and turning the hills into gentle, almost unreal silhouettes. I opened my eyes before the alarm rang and remained still for a few seconds, just listening. Silence was never absolute there — there was always the rustle of leaves, the faint creak of wood, the uneven song of some early bird — but it was a living silence, welcoming, nothing like the kind that had once felt unbearably lonely.
The warm weight around my waist made me smile before I even turned my head.
Marco’s arm remained firmly wrapped around me, even in sleep, as if unconsciously he refused to let me slip away. I shifted carefully so I wouldn’t
