FIGHTING IT

DAMIEN

As morning light filters through the curtains, I wake up to the soft rise and fall of Anna's breathing beside me. She’s still asleep, looking so peaceful, and for a moment, I just lie here watching her, caught off guard by how beautiful she looks. I’m not exactly the sentimental type, but something about seeing her like this completely at ease, her hair falling loosely around her face—gets to me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

It’s strange, the effect she has on me, and it makes me feel… out of my element. Since we got married, I've mostly kept my emotions in check, playing the role, and keeping things in order, but this morning, lying here next to her, that resolve feels thinner, stretched.

I brush a few strands of hair away from her face, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. Her skin is warm and soft under my touch, and before I even realize what I'm doing, I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. She stirs, her eyes fluttering open, and for a brief second, I feel