The sun glistened through the seeps of the off-white, cosy like window blinds. The alarm melodiously played a chirping noise that you would hear in the parks during spring. As I was pulling my body up from the cosiness of our bed and the warmth that cuddled me to sleep, a force pulled me right back into the bed.
"Evan" I giggled.
" come on, we need to get up, I need to get to school by 8:30 and it is already 7 o'clock".
The force that griped me back to bed tightened on my waist and he huffily said " HONEY, just stay in for a bit more" and I laughingly exclaimed that "you don't need to have me, to sleep do you?" He let out a quiet, sleepy chuckle against my shoulder. "I sleep better when you're here," he murmured, his voice still thick with drowsiness.
I shook my head, though I couldn't stop smiling. "That's not a valid excuse," I said, trying to sound firm, Evan as I gently pried his arm from around my waist.
"It is to me," he replied, tightening his hold for a second longer before finally letting go with a reluctant sigh.
I slipped out of bed, the cold floor brushing against my feet, a sharp contrast to the warmth I had just left behind. Stretching slightly, I glanced back at him. Evan had already turned onto his side, his eyes half-closed, watching me in that quiet way he always did like he was memorising something he didn't want to forget.
"What?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Nothing," he said softly, though the faint smile on his lips said otherwise.
I rolled my eyes playfully and made my way to the bathroom, the familiar rhythm of the morning beginning to take over. The sound of running water, the clink of a toothbrush against the sink, the quiet hum of another ordinary day.
By the time I stepped into the kitchen, tying my hair into a loose knot, the smell of coffee had already filled the air.
I didn't think much of it.
Of course it was there.
My mug sat on the counter, exactly where it always was, filled just the way I liked it, more milk than coffee, just enough sugar to soften the bitterness. Still warm.
"Evan?" I called out, more out of habit than curiosity.
No answer.
I peeked back into the bedroom. He was still in bed, half-buried under the blanket, eyes closed like he hadn't moved at all.
"You made the coffee?" I asked.
A quiet hum. "Mhm."
"When?"
A pause.
"Before you woke up."
I stared at him, unsure whether to believe him. "You were literally holding me hostage two minutes ago."
He smiled faintly, eyes already drifting shut again. "Worth it."
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. "You're unbelievable."
"Mm," he hummed, clearly no longer listening.
I lingered there for a second longer before heading back to the kitchen. The coffee tasted exactly right, like it always did.
I returned to the kitchen, picking up the mug and taking a sip as I reached for my bag. It tasted the same as it always did. Warm. Familiar. Right.
Just coffee.
I checked the time, slipped on my shoes, and headed for the door. "I'm leaving!" I called out.
"Drive safe," he murmured faintly from the bedroom.
"Yeah," I replied, already distracted, already moving on.
The door clicked shut behind me, the moment fading as quickly as it had come.
---------
The school day passed in its usual blur of chatter, questions, and tiny hands tugging at my sleeve. Children had a way of filling every corner of silence, leaving little room to think about anything else.
By the time the final bell rang, I was exhausted, my energy drained in the way only teaching could manage. I gathered my things slowly, saying goodbye to the last few students as they ran out the door.
"Miss Romano!" one of them called, turning back. "My mum says love is when someone buys you flowers every week."
I smiled lightly. "That's one way to show it."
"What does your husband do?" she asked curiously.
The question caught me off guard, but only for a second.
I let out a small, polite smile. "Oh, he loves me," I said easily, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's… everything, really."
The child's eyes widened slightly, impressed by the answer, before she nodded and ran off.
I watched her go, my smile lingering out of habit more than feeling.
For a moment, I stood there in the quiet classroom.
I didn't think about the coffee that morning.
Or the way he had held me a little longer before letting go.
Or how he always noticed when I came home.
Those things didn't cross my mind.
They were just… normal.
Instead, I picked up my bag and headed out, the thought already gone as quickly as it had come.
---------
When I got home later that evening, the house was quiet again. Not empty, just still.
Evan sat at his desk, camera parts scattered around him, carefully adjusting something under the soft glow of the lamp.
"You're home," he said.
"Yes" I claimed.
"how was your day?"
"It was exhausting but fun with the children, AND Honey guess what"
" What love?"
" Next week the summer holidays starts, is that not exciting!!!"
He looked up from the camera parts that was laid on his table and started grinning at me.
"What are you staring at?" I asked
"YOU honey, and I already know about it. I even booked a house in Adelaide near to the beaches for next week"
I blinked, surprised. "You did?"
"Mhm." He leaned back slightly, watching my reaction. "Thought you'd like it."
A smile spread across my face. "Of course I would, that sounds amazing."
"It's nothing too big," he added casually. "Just somewhere quiet."
"That's fine," I said quickly, already picturing the break from work. "I just need the rest."
He nodded, like that had been the point all along.
"When did you even have time to plan this?" I asked, walking closer.
"Here and there," he replied simply, turning his attention back to the camera parts on the desk.
I let out a small laugh. "You and your timing."
There was a brief pause before he spoke again. "You should go sit. I'll get dinner started."
"You don't have to," I said, though I was already moving toward the couch.
"I know," he said.
That was all.
I sank into the cushions, kicking off my shoes as I pulled my phone into my hands, scrolling through messages, notifications, photos anything to unwind. In the background, I could hear him moving around the kitchen, the quiet clatter of plates and the soft hum of something cooking.
It felt normal.
Like it always did.
Dinner was simple, but warm. We ate across from each other, exchanging small bits of conversation nothing deep, nothing heavy. Just enough to fill the silence.
Afterwards, I stood to clear the table, but he gently took the plate from my hands.
"I've got it," he said.
"You always say that," I replied, not really arguing.
"And I always mean it."
I shrugged, letting him take over as I stepped away, already thinking about the next day.
Later that night, I slipped back under the covers, the familiar warmth settling around me again. Evan joined a few minutes after, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight.
Almost instinctively, his arm found its way around my waist, pulling me closer.
I didn't think much of it.
I just adjusted slightly, getting comfortable, letting my eyes close.
"Goodnight, my love ," he murmured softly against my hair.
"Goodnight," I replied, already half-asleep.
His hold lingered, steady and sure, like it always was.
And just like that, the day ended, quiet and simple.