Aurelia
Earlier that day
I woke slowly, the remnants of a dream still heavy on my mind. My body felt warm and heavy against the sheets, the comfort of the bed wrapping me like a cocoon. Eyes still closed, I reached out instinctively, stretching my hand across the bed, searching for the familiar presence of Leonard beside me. My fingertips brushed only the cool, empty space where he should have been.
My eyes fluttered open, confusion momentarily tugging at the edges of my sleep-hazed mind. Where had he gone? The absence of his warmth left the bed feeling far too large. I ignored the knot tightening in my stomach and rolled out of bed, pushing away the odd sense of loss. It didn't matter where he went. He was probably just tending to something important.
