Leon's Pov:
The night was quiet. I could hear Ava's steady breathing as she lay on my chest. I wasn't awake because I couldn't sleep… I was awake simply because I could. My insomnia had become easier to bear since I met her. Her voice wasn't the only thing healing me—her presence, her words, her acts of selflessness… everything she did made me feel more at peace.
Peace. Something I hadn't felt in a long time. Something I had craved for even longer. I never thought I would find it in a person, but luck had been on my side that night at the bar.
I couldn't help but smile when I thought about it. I held her a little closer and closed my eyes. The frustration, the pain, the anger, the regret… none of it was there anymore. For the first time in years, my mind wasn't racing.
I shifted slightly, careful not to wake her. Ava murmured softly and tightened her arm around me.
"Leon…" she whispered sleepily.
"I'm here," I said quietly.
She relaxed again almost immediately.
