I woke up to an empty bed. The warmth that I had come to associate with Seraphina's presence was conspicuously absent. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I glanced around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But she wasn't there. The silence was almost oppressive, the stillness unsettling.
I sat up, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles, and noticed the clock on the wall. My eyes widened in shock. It was already 1 PM. How had I slept so long? Guilt and anxiety bubbled up inside me. I was supposed to be more vigilant, especially after everything that had happened recently.
Rushing through my morning routine, I splashed water on my face and brushed out the tangles in my hair. I dressed quickly in a simple gown, not bothering with anything too elaborate. My mind was racing with thoughts of what might have transpired while I was asleep.
