A Second Sunrise

e white curtains. That gentle glow bathed the room in warmth, spreading across every surface like a lover's touch. The space was awash in soft

as quiet. Pe

on, the delicate carvings on its frame suggested it belonged in a palace-an heirloom, perhaps, or a national treasure. Intricate vines and roses curled

lk pajamas and was further cradled by cotton bedding that looked too pure to touch. Her snow-white hair spilled across the pillow in soft

eeks dusted with tiny freckles that sat like whispered constellations beneath her eyes. It didn't detract from

h

gure s

ht. Her long, platinum-blonde hair tumbled down her back like a waterfall, catching the light with every movement. Her eyelids

er voice thick with sleep. There was a vulne

ugh the golden light offended her, and l

the

ight. She blinked in disbelief, hands trembling as she brought them closer to her fac

" she whispered. "

dre

'd ever stepped on. The room around her was foreign, opulent, unreal. It looked like something pulled straight from a fairy tale-a princess's chamb

and hesitant. Each movement felt like trespassing, like

he saw her

umbled

er stare

. Pale, luminous skin. White hair. Pale gray eyes

ed again, as though repeating it would force th

ds. Her heart raced, thundering wildly in her chest like a drum ec

th

slammed into her

-

lowed with warmth then, sun-kissed from a work trip. Her lips curled into a smile, giddy and aching with ant

his lips when he was caught off guard. The warmth of his embrace,

g. Hopeful. Ra

urned in

erself. She crept down the hallway like a thief, suitca

hen-n

o

thm

sed, bl

ine m

rowed. That

hallway light pouring in just enough to make shad

dick feels

ike that,

-eg

hing s

imbs locked. The suitcas

oice. She knew

r woman. The very sheets they'd chosen together, the ones she'd

whispered.

aughed. A giggle,

rned a

n't breathe. The apartment walls pressed in on

er through the building's front doors, barefoot and broken. The sky open

e

d her like a predator. Her heart beat too fast, like it might sh

obbed into the night. "W

er but

cried, voice brea

one. City lights spun around her like a carouse

th

ng hea

ech of

ver made it p

Then d

le

die