Breakfast

Ditun woke up to see two calm eyes staring at him. He stiffened and jumped, his eyes growing wide with shock. His wife was seated on the bed, watching him with a warm smile. Quickly, he brought his hand to his face; his mask was still intact. The smile she gave him could only mean that she did not...

"I did not take it off," she said, taking the words out of his mouth.

He had not realized that he was holding his breath until now as he let it out. The thought of her seeing his face scared him.

Wait! How was it possible that he had fallen asleep with no nightmares? The last thing he remembered was her soothing voice and the calmness it brought him.

How could that alone make him sleep so peacefully that he was even vulnerable and unaware when she left his embrace? Yes, he remembered holding her before he fell asleep.