Tessa.
I woke up stretching lazily like a child, arms extending above my head as a small yawn escaped my lips. Warmth still clung to my skin, and my body melted deeper into the comfort of the sheets as though I could remain there forever. For the first time in what felt like days, sleep had been kind to me. My bones felt lighter, my mind less foggy. I really had a good night's rest, deep, quiet, dreamless.
Still smiling faintly, I turned slowly with the intention of greeting Robert, ready to tease him for watching me sleep again or waking up before me for once. But the space beside me was empty. The pillow dented where his head should have been was already cool.
My smile fell.
My heart skipped, not painfully, but sharply enough to jolt me fully awake. I blinked twice, pushing strands of hair away from my face as I stared at the empty spot, hoping that maybe I had just missed him. Maybe he'd rolled to the other side.
But no. He was gone.
