*Runze's POV*
The first thing I notice when I wake up is the emptiness.
Not the room.
The bed.
I blink slowly, still half asleep, and instinctively reach toward the other side of the mattress. My fingers slide across the smooth, flat linen, searching for the familiar warmth that is usually there.
Nothing. The sheets are already cold.
I frown, staring up as the last bits of sleep fade away.
It has been a long time since I woke up without Bael. Ever since I came back from the hospital, every single morning had started the exact same way.
Sometimes I woke with my face pressed against his chest, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Other times, I woke up wrapped tight in his arms, his chin resting on top of my head and his warmth keeping the morning chill away.
