When Eloá wakes up the next morning, still with her eyes closed, she reaches across the mattress, searching for Gael’s warmth so she can curl up against him.

But her fingers find only cold, empty sheets.

A tightness grips her chest. She opens her eyes and turns over to make sure.

He’s not there.

She sits up with a start, her heart racing wildly. Confused, she scans the silent room and, without thinking, gets out of bed. She walks through the apartment, whispering his name with a trembling voice