Chapter 124 - Good Morning

I wake up before Shalom the next morning, the first light of dawn glowing through the window. I lie still for a moment, just watching her sleep. Her face is serene, a slight smile on her lips as if she's having good dream. I can't help but reach out, touching her face softly, tracing the curve of her cheek with my fingertips without waking her.

The memory of last night lingers, and fills me with a sense of joy I haven't felt this way in weeks. I brush a strand of hair away from her face, marveling at how peaceful she looks. It's moments like these that make everything worth it, the struggles, the heartache—they all fade away in the presence of this simple, beautiful moment.

I shift slightly, careful not to wake her, and continue to watch her sleep. Her breathing is steady and calm, and I can feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest against my side. The rhythm soothes me, and grouns me in the reality that she's here, with me, where she belongs.

My thoughts drift back to the wed