Olivia Shepard slowly opens her eyes. She feels refreshed, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit happy. It has been a long time since she's had such a good sleep, no nightmares, no interruptions, no voices from the grave calling out, calling her. Today, she woke without urgency.
Whilst sleep had gave her peace, and calmness, her waking was now presenting more intense emotions, not all of them she could yet identify.
She's aware of another body near her, she can just hear breathing, deep and slow. She closes her eyes, she thinks she's smiling, its been so long since she smiled without realising it. Yes, she is, she is smiling.
She holds her own breath and releases it in time to match that of her sleeping companion, without any effort their breathing matches, completely in sync.
Like last night, both in sync, so complete and so natural.
Today feels like a new day, a new start. Put the ghosts behind her, start to make plans, start to look forward. She now realises that there can be a future for her, and she even allows herself another smile, 'a future for us'.
Turning her head slowly to her left, she opens her eyes. She knows what she will see, but fuck, she feels so happy to see it, see her, here, next to her, with her. She stares at the neck, the back, the shoulders, amazed at the reality of the situation. Waves of emotions wash over her. She could drown here, she holds her breath, she would die happy. She breathes again.
She's happy, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit in love with the cerulean goddess that has chosen to lie with her.
Finally.