Rey hates mornings. The bright, glowing sun streaming through the curtains and practically blinding her. The too cheerful chirp of a songbird interrupting a much needed sleep. She doesn't understand how anyone can function before noon without at least two cup of black coffee in their system. Without fail, Ben will have a steaming cup of coffee, black, on her bedside table every morning.
But today, all she can smell is the suffocating scent of freshly-mowed grass.
She slowly rises into a sitting position, eyes squinting against the harsh rays of the sun. Her hands blindly grasp at the space beside her, disappointment rising in her chest when all she feels is a cold emptiness. She taps at her phone to check the time; eight fifteen. Usually, Ben is awake by seven and her coffee is ready at eight.
Pulling a fleece blanket around her shoulders, she slips out of bed, walking almost zombie-like out of their shared bedroom. With eyes still closed, she stumbles out into the hall, muscle memory guiding her down the stairs. She almost makes it to the kitchen when she bumps into a wall.
Her eyes open to find that it's not a wall, but Ben, tall frame leaning casually in the kitchen doorway, pretending to be focused in his book. A sprig of mistletoe dangles right by his head. His eyes slide from the page to her, mouth open as if he's about to say something.
"Your book is upside down." She mumbles, shuffling past him and barely noticing the look of shock that makes its way onto his face.