Ariella stood by the window, holding her newborn daughter, as the first light of dawn spread across the sky. Outside, everything was calm and peaceful, a sharp contrast to the turmoil she had faced to reach this moment.
She should have felt secure.
But deep down, she knew—safety was just a mirage.
Leo stirred in bed, his instincts kicking in before he was fully awake. His eyes found her immediately, searching her face. "You're up again."
Ariella looked back, her fingers gently touching her baby's tiny hand. "When she wakes, I wake."
Leo sat up, running a hand through his hair, still alert despite all they had been through. "She's not the only one keeping you awake."
Ariella sighed and shifted a bit. "I keep expecting the next battle."
Leo crossed the room quickly, kissing her temple and placing his hand on their daughter. "You don't have to fight anymore."
Ariella met his gaze, her silence speaking volumes.
They both understood that wasn't the case.
