Shadows Heart

The apartment is quiet, save for the soft rhythm of Sao's breathing. She's curled up on the couch, her head resting against my shoulder, her curls brushing against my chin. The faint glow of the TV flickers across her face, and I can't help but smile.

She's so peaceful like this, so far removed from the stress and pain that's dominated so much of her life.

As I look at her, something stirs in me—something I've felt for years but have always been too afraid to admit.

"I love you," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

She doesn't respond, her breaths steady and even. She's already asleep.

I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. It's a small gesture, but it feels monumental.

Once I'm sure she's deeply asleep, I carefully shift out from under her, covering her with a blanket before heading for the door.

The night air is cool against my skin as I step outside, my mind racing. I've been planning this for weeks—little surprises, ways to make her happy, to show her how much she means to me.

Tonight, I'm going shopping.

The boutique is small, tucked into a quiet corner of the city, but it's exactly what I was looking for. The racks are filled with soft fabrics, elegant designs, and pieces that I can already imagine Sao wearing.

I pick out a few outfits—flowy dresses, comfortable sweaters, and a pair of jeans that I think she'll love. Then, almost on a whim, I find myself wandering toward a section I hadn't planned on visiting.

The lingerie section.

My chest tightens as I sift through the delicate fabrics, my fingers brushing against lace and silk. I hesitate, wondering if this is too much, but then I think of Sao—of her confidence, her fire, the way she deserves to feel beautiful in every way.

I choose a few pieces, carefully folding them into the shopping bag before heading to the register.

As I step out of the store, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen, my heart skipping a beat when I see Janus's name.

I answer quickly. "Hey."

"Oriel," Janus says, his voice warm but tired. "I wasn't sure if you'd pick up."

"I'm out running errands," I say, leaning against a lamppost. "What's up?"

There's a pause, and then Janus sighs. "I wanted to check in. How's Sao?"

"She's... better," I say honestly. "She's eating again, smiling more. We've been spending a lot of time together."

"That's good to hear," Janus says, and I can hear the relief in his voice. "I've been worried about her. About both of you."

"We're fine," I say, though the words feel heavier than they should. "What about you? How's the research?"

Janus's tone shifts, a spark of excitement creeping into his voice. "It's going well. I think I might be onto something, Oriel. The samples I got from the bats—there's a compound in their saliva that's unlike anything I've seen before. It could be the key to reversing the effects of our condition."

My grip on the phone tightens. "You mean... a cure?"

"Potentially," he says, his voice cautious but hopeful. "It's still early, but the data is promising."

A surge of emotion wells up in me—hope, disbelief, and something I can't quite name. "Janus, if you pull this off..."

"I'll bring it back," he says firmly. "For all of us. For her."

The mention of Sao makes my chest tighten, and I glance at the shopping bags in my hand.

"She misses you," I say quietly.

"I miss her too," he replies, his voice softening. "Tell her that for me."

I hesitate, my mind flickering to the tickets tucked safely in the apartment. "I will," I say finally.

After we hang up, I take a deep breath, staring up at the night sky. The stars are faint against the city lights, but they're there, constant and unwavering.

Janus is working on something that could change everything. A cure. A future.

But tonight, my focus is on Sao. On making her happy, on showing her that she's loved and cared for.

I head back to the apartment, the bags swinging at my sides, my mind racing with thoughts of her smile, her laughter, the warmth of her presence.

I don't know what the future holds, but for now, I'm doing everything I can to make sure it's bright. For her. For us.