Joe woke to sunlight spilling across the bed and the rich, comforting smell of coffee. Dust motes floated lazily in the warm beam near the window. His head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, and his body felt heavy, sore in a way that sank deep into his bones, but it was manageable. For the first time in days, the pain wasn’t screaming.
That alone felt like a small miracle.
He turned his head.
Abby sat cross-legged beside him on the bed, her back resting lightly against the headboard. Her auburn hair was braided neatly away from her face, a few soft wisps escaping near her temples. She held a mug in one hand, steam curling upward, and her phone in the other, her eyes scanning the screen with quiet concentration.
For a long moment, he just watched her.
The gentle slope of her nose.
