Leaving
As the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, I stirred in Seraphine's arms, the warmth of her body still wrapped around me like a protective shield. My eyes fluttered open, taking in the soft morning light that painted the room in hues of gold and pink.
The world outside was quiet, the kind of serene stillness that only the early morning could bring. I could hear the gentle rustle of leaves outside, the faint chirping of birds as they greeted the new day.
Seraphine was still asleep, her face relaxed, her breathing even. I took a moment to simply watch her, to memorize the peaceful expression she wore when the weight of the world wasn't pressing down on her shoulders.
Her red hair was a tousled halo around her face, her lips slightly parted in sleep. She looked so different from the fierce, determined woman I had fought alongside, and yet this side of her felt just as familiar, just as precious.