NICOLE
The first thing I notice is the silence. Not the panicked silence of the last few days, but a deep, peaceful quiet. The second thing I notice is the cold space next to me in the bed.
I open my eyes. December 19th. The grey morning light filters through the windows.
No surprise. Kenji's always up first. He's probably in his home gym, punishing his body into submission like he always does. The routine of it is almost comforting. After the chaos, some things remain the same.
I stretch, my muscles pleasantly sore. The memory of last night wraps around me like a warm blanket—his apology, the raw need in his touch, the feeling of finally, finally being seen.
But today, I have my own life to attend to.
I have a final review session at the university. A slice of a normal world that feels a million miles away from shaped charges and corporate takeovers.
I slide out of bed and pad into the bathroom. I turn the shower on as hot as I can stand it, filling the room with steam.
