NOAH
The dream felt so real that for a second, my lungs didn't know how to work without the heat of him.
In the dream, Cassian was holding me. His arms were solid, and his chest was a steady drum against my ear. It was warm. It was safe.
It was the only place in the world that made sense. Then the light from the window hit my face, and the heat vanished.
The reality of the morning came back, heavy and cold. He was still in that bed. He was still lost in a sleep that didn't have an end date.
I forced myself to get up. My body felt like it was made of lead, but I pushed through the haze. On the walk to the station, I saw other couples.
They were holding hands or sharing coffee, their lives moving in straight, simple lines. I looked away.
I went to the office first. The building was the same as always, a tall glass box full of people pretending to be important.
