Lila
The sheets smelled like Damon. His arms were wrapped around me, steady and silent, his breath even against the curve of my neck.
If I closed my eyes, I could almost believe this was peace. That nothing outside this bed waited to unravel us. But I let my eyes drift open instead.
Damon held me with a gentleness that made my chest ache, his thumb occasionally brushing against my side in a rhythm that soothed me. It was tender, yes. But guarded. Like if he held me any tighter, I might break.
Or maybe he would.
The silence stretched long between us. It made room for thoughts I didn’t want. Regrets I couldn’t swallow.
He hadn’t asked where I’d been. Hadn’t asked about the strange fatigue clinging to me or why I trembled at odd moments like my body no longer belonged to me.
He simp
