The morning light had barely begun to filter through the curtains when Hana woke with a start.
Her hand instinctively reached toward the spot beside her, only to grasp empty sheets, still warm. A frown furrowed her brows as her heart skipped a beat. Quietly pushing the blankets off, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed into the hallway.
The house was still. Too still.
Her eyes caught a familiar silhouette sitting cross-legged by the window, bathed in the quiet gray of dawn. The little girl sat so still it made Hana's chest ache—back straight, eyes fixed on the half-lit horizon beyond the cracked glass pane.
Only then did Hana let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Why are you up so early, hmm?" she whispered as she padded over and sat down beside her, gently wrapping her arms around Yuki's small shoulders and pulling her close. "Are you hungry?"
