Sage stirred, his eyelids fluttering against the morning. A fissure of brilliant, golden sunlight had found its way through a narrow gap in the drawn curtains, creating a burning strip that fell directly across his face.
He let out a soft groan, lifting a hand to rub the sleep from his eyes before finally pushing himself up. He settled back against the comfort of the headboard, taking a moment to simply breathe in the tranquil morning air.
The gentle quiet was suddenly broken. The door clicked open, and Katelyn stepped in with a cheerful energy.
"Oh, you're finally awake, sleepyhead!" she announced. She didn't linger, just gave him a quick, warm glance. "Breakfast is just about ready. Come and freshen up quickly, you don't want the coffee to go cold." And with that, she was gone, the door closing softly behind her.
