Neither of them could fall asleep.
Or perhaps they didn't want to sleep.
They lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, legs tangled, lips occasionally meeting, words of love leaving their mouths. He ran his fingertips along her back, making her shiver and snuggle further against him. With a chuckle, he kissed her forehead.
The final battle, the end of this war, would happen in a matter of hours. In the past, he had thought about this with resignation and readiness to die. He would have no reason to stay alive even if he felt no eagerness to lose his life. Were it not for the woman in his arms, that would not have changed.
But now he had a reason to live beyond the war. Whatever the battle tomorrow would bring, he would survive and spend the rest of his life with this woman. Death would not claim him anytime soon. For as long as he had left, and he intended to fight for much longer than that, he would stay beside his beloved.
They had both lost so much, but she maintained a hope that he could not prevent from affecting him. She was afraid of what could happen, but truly believed that no matter how terrible or sorrowful things were, they would get better. She made the best out of everything, tried to see the good in everyone, and never lost the ability to smile and help others do so. How could he not fall in love with her?
She reached for his hand and gave him a smile that he returned. There was no fear or hesitation in her smile. She did not regret anything, and he no longer asked. There was no changing her mind, and he had promised not to let her go ever again.
It didn't matter what happened; they would face it together, with smiles on their faces as they looked toward the bright future ahead of them.