Part 1

See

She wakes up slowly, feeling drowsy and disoriented with a low humming in her ears. Indistinguishable sounds come from somewhere far beyond, and she can feel the warmth of light on her face seemingly moving all over her skin. A soft voice in the back of her awaking mind suggests keeping her eyes shut and just bathing in this floating sensation of softness and serenity.

Finally, it comes back to her, a rush of bright images, melodic sounds, laughter, smiles, caressing touches on the skin – and a sharp pang of fear: it had been a dream. The thought forms in a spot right behind her right temple, spreading successively through the different regions of her brain, the word dream glowing in dark red letters, growing and growing, filling her whole field of vision.

She opens her eyes and slowly, fearfully turns her head on the pillow. And there he is, eyes half-lidded and a quiet smile on his lips.

Wait

He is watching her wake, the stirring of her body, a visible tension in her neck. The last one makes him worried about her first reaction when she sees him. She takes many moments to open her eyes as if dreading reality seeping in. He holds his breath and waits. 

The joy in her eyes means more to him than he could ever admit.