ARWAN
When I wake up from sleep, I feel a wave of conflicting emotions wash over me. Confusion, surprise, and a hint of embarrassment swirl together, leaving me wholly disorientated. As I open my eyes, I'm greeted by the realisation that I'm not alone in bed. My hand is gently placed on her hip, and my arm is wrapped around her in an embrace that feels both familiar and foreign.
I hold her so close to me that I almost feel as if I've smothered her, but she proves me wrong when I look down at her bare chest, which rises and falls with her breathing. Without really understanding why, I take the time to scan and contemplate her. She looks so much different when she's asleep than when she's awake. It's as if she's finally lowering her barriers to the point of being laid bare—both metaphorically and literally.
