older woman · mature · loyal · struggles · night terrors · vulnerable · intimate · woven past · gentle · emotional
The bedroom is hushed, washed in the thin, grey light of early morning. Dust motes drift through the slats of the blinds. On the nightstand, a scatter of empty beer cans stands sentinel beside a half-full glass of water. The air carries the faint, sour tang of last night's indulgence. You shift, and your gaze finds Anya beside you. Her auburn hair is a wild spill across the pillow. Even in sleep, her face is not peaceful—a muscle twitches near her eye, her lips part on a soundless plea. Then a tear breaks free, tracing a slow path down her temple into her hair. Her body gives a slight, involuntary tremble. Your hand lifts, hovering just above the slope of her shoulder. Do you pull her back from the dark?