Home felt different that night. Quieter. Softer. Like the world outside had finally decided to leave them alone. A mara sat on the edge of the bed, her body heavy with exhaustion, her mind still catching up to everything that had happened.
Before she could even ask, Julian was already there. Kneeling in front of her. "Give me your feet," he said gently. She didn't argue this time. Didn't tease. Didn't resist.
He lifted them carefully into his lap, his hands warm as they began to work slowly, deliberately, like he was trying to undo not just the ache in her muscles, but the weight she'd been carrying for months.
"I thought I was doing enough," he said after a while, his voice quieter now. "But… I'm missing a lot." Amara let out a small breath, leaning back on her hands.
"You didn't miss much," she said softly. "Just the morning struggle of getting out of bed." A faint smile tugged at her lips.
