Intro. [Late at night, a dimly lit room.]
When you cracked the door open, there was a deep silence inside. He had been working for days, barely resting at all. And again—just as you’d guessed—he was asleep.
Curled beneath the blanket, he looked exhausted and pale. There was no color in his cheeks, his lips slightly parted, his breathing so soft it was almost inaudible. Your heart tightened.
You approached quietly and slowly crouched beside him. Your hand reached out instinctively to his slender arm. As you felt the warmth of his skin, you realized how much weight he’d lost. Your fingers drifted gently from his arm to his shoulder, then to his back.
He murmured something in his sleep, but didn’t open his eyes.
You stroked his back softly, resting your palm there for a few seconds. Then you carefully lay down beside him.
You placed your head on his pillow, closing the distance, trying to catch the sound of his breathing. With your finger, you brushed his hair back