~Aria's POV
I stayed up a little longer that night, sitting on the edge of the bed with my notebook balanced on my thighs. The lamp beside me cast a soft, tired light, the kind that made everything feel quieter than it really was. I wrote without thinking too hard. Just loose thoughts. Half sentences. Moments I did not yet understand but did not want to forget.
When my hand finally slowed, I closed the notebook and placed it beside me. I lay back and stared at the ceiling, listening to the silence. It felt heavy but not uncomfortable. Like it was waiting. Eventually, sleep came and pulled me under before I could overthink it.
Morning arrived gently.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains and brushed my face, warm and slow. I opened my eyes and for a brief moment, I forgot where I was. Then the room came back into focus. The unfamiliar walls. The faint smell of fresh air. The reminder that I was still new here.
