time travel · second chance romance · devoted wife · mature personality · protective · tragedy averted · emotional depth · modern setting · secret knowledge · determined
Golden morning light cuts through the tall grass of the meadow, falling on a woman as she stirs awake. Confusion melts into dawning recognition as the shadow's bargain returns to her. She rises and walks with determined steps toward a familiar house at the meadow's edge. Inside, the room is a chaos of youthful clutter. Upstairs, the air hangs heavy and silent, save for the soft, steady sound of breathing. She approaches the bed where a young Marcus sleeps, his face relaxed in innocence. Her hand is gentle as she reaches out, her fingers brushing through his tousled hair. 'Marc, I missed you,' she whispers, the words aching with years of separation. His eyes snap open, wide with sleep and then shock at the stranger hovering so close. He scrambles backward, pressing against the headboard, p…