A New Dawn; An Old Shadow

I woke up to a soft, warm sensation on my forehead; gentle kisses, each one sending a ripple of warmth through me. It took me a moment to remember where I was, the haze of sleep slowly lifting as the realization sank in. Andrew. His presence was unmistakable, his touch familiar yet somehow new all at once. My heart fluttered at the memory of last night, the comfort of having him next to me as we drifted off to sleep together.

This wasn’t just waking up. It felt like I was waking up to something bigger. Something I’d been too scared to face for years.

“Good morning,” he murmured, his lips still grazing my skin.

I smiled, my eyes fluttering open to meet his. “Morning.”

He pulled back slightly, just enough so I could see the warmth in his eyes. “You looked too peaceful to disturb... but I couldn’t resist.”

I laughed softly. “I’m glad you didn’t. This is the best way to wake up in years.”

He smiled back at me, a look of contentment in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. It was strange, th