The morning sunlight filtered through sheer curtains, painting gentle gold streaks across the guest room.
Juni stirred under soft blankets he wasn't used to—clean, warm, smelling faintly of cedar and something calming.
For a moment… he forgot where he was.
Then memory rushed in—
Elian's arms around him.
Lorian stepping in.
The physician.
The tears.
The safety.
Juni blinked, heart tightening.
"…I slept."
The realization brought a shaky breath.
"I really slept…"
Not restlessly.
Not waking every hour.
Not listening for footsteps.
Just… sleeping.
He glanced at the clock.
He'd slept later than he ever had.
And then—
A soft knock.
Juni almost jolted upright.
The door opened a crack.
"Juni? May I come in?"
A gentle, warm female voice.
Juni froze.
The door opened fully, revealing a woman with soft brown hair tied loosely back, warm amber eyes that held a depth he couldn't quite place, and a calm presence that filled the room like warm sunlight.
Evelyn Hart Sorell.
Elian's mother.
She offered a gentle smile that melted the tension in the air.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Juni blinked.
Sweetheart?
No one had ever spoken to him like that.
He lowered his gaze nervously.
"G-Good morning, ma'am."
She stepped inside, carrying a small tray with warm soup, sliced apples, honey tea, and a neatly folded towel.
"You can call me Eve," she said softly.
"Or Evelyn, if you prefer. But you don't have to be formal here."
Juni swallowed hard.
Her voice was warm, grounding.
Not pitying.
Not invasive.
Just… safe.
She set the tray on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, not too close but near enough to offer comfort.
Her eyes were soft, perceptive—seeing much more than Juni said out loud.
"You must be hurting."
Juni's breath hitched.
His fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
"…A little."
Evelyn smiled sadly.
"Pain carried alone becomes heavier. You must be exhausted."
Tears stung the back of Juni's eyes unexpectedly.
He bit his lip.
"I… didn't mean to be a burden."
Evelyn's expression shifted—just slightly—into something fiercely protective.
"Juni. You are not a burden."
Her voice was gentle, but with a firmness that made Juni believe her even if he wasn't ready to.
"You needed help. And now you're somewhere safe to rest. That's all."
Juni stared down at his hands.
Evelyn noticed.
"You don't have to talk about anything until you're ready," she added.
"But I want you to know… you have a place here."
Something inside Juni cracked—quietly.
He wasn't ready to let it break open, but the warmth seeped through the cracks anyway.