–Damon–
I arrived home late—exhausted, sore, and bruised by the mountain of work that never seems to end. The house was quiet, dimly lit, and peaceful in that deceptive way that only makes my thoughts louder.
I headed straight to our bedroom, the one place that still feels like mine. There she was—my wife—and beside her, that little rascal who had officially stolen my spot. Both of them looked too perfect for me to even complain. I set the gift I brought on her bedside table, then trudged into the bathroom for a long, hot shower.
I scrubbed myself the way Livana always reminds me to—"Until there's no trace of the world left on you." She says it half-jokingly, but I always listen.
