A Second Sunrise

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

ace-an heirloom, perhaps, or a national treasure. Nestled within its embrace lay a form that seemed sculpted by the divine. Her skin, like milk kissed by moonlight, peeked from beneath silk pajamas and was further cradled

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

gure s

n her back like a waterfall, catching the light with every movement. Her eyelids fluttered open,

voice thick with sleep. There was a vulner

skin, which had once held a caramel warmth, now looked

dre

t, unreal. It looked like something pulled straight from a fairy tale-a princess's chamber. The bed, the

ng slowly to take it all in. "I don't reme

ken nightdress she wore-so

hose body is thi

oughts, but before she could spiral, it hit

-

h anticipation. Her apartment-their apartment-came into view, and a smile tugged at her lips. She was go

'd moved toward the bedroom, planning to slip in and surprise him, already ima

hen-n

rhyt

pa

ine m

Then horror. Then silence. She e

dick feels

ike that,

-eg

years-her person-lay tangled in their sheets with someone else. On thei

ing col

ouldn't breathe. The walls of the apartment closed in, their happy memories turned rancid. With

the pain co

ears, drenching h

ried into the storm. "Wh

er but

ice cracked, lost ben

azed, vision swimming, the city

th

ng hea

ech of

la

then d

die