Felix woke earlier than usual, sunlight spilling through the half-drawn curtains in soft golden stripes. He lay there for a moment, eyes fixed on the ceiling, letting the memories of last night drift back to him like an indulgent dream. The almost-kiss, her hesitant eyes, the way her breath had mingled with his, the subtle tremor in his own chest, played on a loop in his mind.
A quiet, uncharacteristic smile curved his lips. He exhaled slowly, the faintest laugh escaping him as he pushed himself upright. For once, there was no weight pressing down on his thoughts. He felt light, buoyant even, as if something warm had taken root in his chest overnight.
Padding across the room, he grabbed his robe and headed to the kitchen. The polished floors were cool beneath his bare feet, the faint smell of last night's rain still clinging to the morning air seeping in from a cracked window.
