𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 9
When I opened my eyes, the morning sun was streaming into the room. The pillow next to Marcus was still warm, but it didn't feel right to stay here any longer. I slowly got up and moved quietly in the silence of the room.

First, I had to say goodbye to Marcus. Before leaving, I wanted to thank him for the safety he had provided me throughout the night. The time I spent with him had left me with mixed emotions. But now I had to go.

I opened the door to the room and saw Marcus deep in sleep. I approached a little closer without taking my eyes off him.

Marcus: “What’s up?” he asked, still heavy with sleep.

Rose: “Thank you for your help yesterday,” I said, leaning slightly toward him.

Marcus nodded expressionlessly.

In that silence, I wanted to say something to him, but the words got tangled on my tongue.

Rose: “It wasn’t appropriate for me to stay here,” I said, hesitating to speak my mind. “But spending time with you… was different.”

For a moment, we locked eyes, but I couldn't find anything in his gaze that revealed his feelings. Without changing his expression, Marcus simply said,

Marcus: “If you want, you can come back again.”

Nodding, I took one last look at him and opened the door. As the sun hit my face outside, I took a deep breath. There was a slight unease in my heart, but the weight of the moments I left behind was also undeniable. I set off towards home, preparing to return to my life while grappling with the complex emotions brought by the passing time.

When I arrived home, I opened the door quietly. Upon entering, I noticed the house was dark. My parents were asleep, but in the corner...