Nadia stirs from sleep, her mind slowly emerging from the heavy fog of dreams. As her eyes flutter open, she realizes she isn’t alone. Keiko lies beside her, watching her with a calm, silent intensity. The morning light filters through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over Keiko’s face. Her blue eyes soften as they meet Nadia’s gaze.
“Good evening,” Keiko whispers gently, her tone tender but steady.
Nadia blinks, still caught between sleep and wakefulness. “Evening,” she replies, groggily.
Keiko’s lips curve into a slight smile, her presence grounding Nadia. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” Nadia says after a moment, sitting up and pulling the blanket around her shoulders.
Keiko watches her for a moment longer, then speaks again, her voice growing softer. “Thank you… for not locking the door this time. I know I deserved it, but I hated being shut out.”
