After eating, Celina stood up.

“I’m going to brush my teeth.”

“Do you have a spare toothbrush for me?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes, in the cabinet in the guest bathroom.”

They went their separate ways. The sound of running water, toothbrushes, and the soft click of doors filled the apartment, restoring a sense of normalcy.

Gabriel, already finished, stopped at the doorway to Celina’s room.

“Can I come in?”

“Of course,” she replied from the bathroom.

She came out a moment later, drying her hands on a towel.

“I think I’m going to try to sleep.”

Gabriel walked over to the bed, sat at the edge, then leaned back against the headboard. He pulled a pillow onto his lap and said softly:

“Lie down here. Once you’re asleep, I’ll head to the couch, alright? You can rest easy. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Celina hesitated for a moment. But there was so much safety in his gesture that she couldn’t refuse. She lay down, resting her head on his lap, and he covered her with a light blanket. His hand str