efore Et

hush before morning. That quiet space between night

Not because I couldn't, but because I didn't want to shift whatever had settled between us. That

at the

had w

had we

ad been about opening. The kind of opening that doesn't always come with pleasu

uched and aching

ing lik

ike po

me in Braille. My skin remembered it better than my mind did. That kind of memory doesn'

Not lighter-never that, but softer. The lines around his eyes had smoothed. His mouth

ered i

o move. I slid gently out from under his

elt colder

ood at the sink, sipping slowly.

earthy, something clean. Her presence lingered

ay? she

. I t

but under us. A kind of foundation we hadn't asked for

beneath th

expecting Ethan t

ng in the hallway

t twisted from sleep. But his

you been up?" I

while. You left the bed and

mall smile

the kitchen, barefoot like me. He stopped a

he started, and

," I

here. It felt heavier

l more..." he paus

offered.

o. I just fee

ord ca

to

ning back on it with both hands. His arms

like it?"

wasn't loaded

es

ready knew, but need

d y

tching you more tha

lowed.

done in months," he added. "Not because of

did I

hesitate

I did. My fingers found the rim

f maybe I haven't let myself feel

loser then,

ot?" h

h. Not from humor. From

dn't think I

he reached out and placed a hand on my lower back. His palm was warm. His

o," he

oke anyway. But

what I'm doing

her d

y side, the hush of the morning wra

surpri

camera," he said. "The way s

brows furrowed.

than you see yourself," he sai

rt stu

it sca

"Yeah. A

g time before saying, "Go

ndry, emails, dishes-we found ourselves on the co

cap was still on. It felt strange to touc

uld look throu

ou wa

n't k

ough for our thighs to touch.

mera on. Brough

narrowed the wo

at him th

Didn't smile.

ld me last night. The one that hadn't flinched when Le

ter snapped. The sound w

ed the

elt...

stra

hink

nd. Not out of habit

pens next

t away. His thumb brushe

nest. And when Lena comes next week, we

nt her to ki

d at me

. Not because you think it'll fix someth

sed m

rd agai

marriage trying to be good,

t to kiss you?

my face gentl

en

I d

ything. It wasn't about matchi

out him.

. Familiar. And st

g shifte

a l

en

t, he rested his fo

's changin

"But I think we're str

ieved

me in a long tim