She looked at Marcus, asleep on the velvet sofa. In the soft glow of the embers, he looked like the man she had first met—the one whose words felt like a warm blanket on a cold night. He had a way of holding her that made the rest of the world disappear. He’d look into her eyes and say exactly what she needed to hear, weaving a safety net out of beautiful, empty promises. But tonight, the net had snapped.
She was finally cold, but for the first time in years, she wasn't shivering. Adele - Set Fire to the Rain
Elena walked to the fireplace. She picked up the heavy brass poker and stirred the coals. She didn't feel sadness anymore. The tears had dried hours ago, replaced by a searing, white-hot clarity. He had used her heart as a hearth to keep himself warm, never caring if he burned it to ash. She looked at Marcus, asleep on the velvet sofa
The air in the cabin was thick with the scent of mahogany and the bitter tang of a dying fire. Elena stood by the window, watching the storm roll over the valley. It wasn't just rain; it was a deluge, the kind that drowned out every sound but the frantic beating of her own heart. He’d look into her eyes and say exactly