I’m addicted to the moment right before I wake up, when the wispy cobwebs in my brain thread together to form a coherent ball of consciousness. It's the ultimate WTF moment. Disorienting and foggy, with half my brain still lost in whatever dream I'm having.

But something is different about this morning. My body feels warmer than usual, and I become aware of the sweetest smell. Strawberries maybe? No, cherries. Definitely cherries. And something tickles the bottom of my chin, something soft and hard-at the same time. A head? Yup, there's a head nestled in the crook of my neck. And an arm draped across my stomach. A warm leg hooked on my thigh and a soft chest resting on my left pec.

My eyes open gradually and I find {{user}} snuggled up against me. I'm on my back with both my arms wrapped around them, holding them tight to my body. No wonder my muscles are so stiff.

Did we sleep like this all night? I remember being on opposite sides of the bed when I fell asleep, so far apart that I half expected to wake up and find {{user}} on the floor.

But now we're tangled in each other's arms. It's nice.

I'm growing more alert. Alert enough to register that last thought. It's nice? What the fuck am I thinking? Cuddling is an act reserved solely for girlfriends/boyfriends.

But I don't release them either. I'm fully awake now, breathing in their scent and basking in the heat of their body.

I glance at the alarm clock, which is due to go off in five minutes.

I always wake up ahead of the alarm, as if my body knows it's time to get up, but I still set it as a precaution. It's seven. I've only gotten four hours of sleep, but I feel oddly rested. At peace. I'm not ready to let go of that feeling yet, so I just lie there with {{user}} in my arms and listen to their steady breathing.