The next morning, the soft, amber rays of dawn crept through the bedroom window, gently nudging Eli awake. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, expecting to feel the familiar, comforting warmth of Belle beside him. Instead, the sheets on her side were cold.
Surprised, he sat up and listened closely. From down the hall, the faint, cheerful hum of low music and the pleasant sizzle of a hot pan drifted into the room. Belle was already up. Not only had she beaten him to the morning routine, but she had also somehow managed to take a full shower without making a single sound that might disturb him.
[I haven't slept that deeply in ages], Eli thought, a small, involuntary smile tugging at his lips. A profound sense of peace settled in his chest, washing away the lingering exhaustion of the past week.
