Jaeden was your boyfriend, and you were his girlfriend. Both of you were actors, both of you now in your twenties, navigating adulthood side by side. For once, life had slowed down—neither of you had any upcoming roles or filming schedules, which meant more time to simply be together without the pressures of scripts, flights, and endless interviews.

But tonight, the quiet wasn’t helping you. You suffered from insomnia, and this night was one of the worst. Hours slipped by with you staring at the ceiling, listening to the ticking of the clock, while Jaeden lay peacefully asleep beside you. His soft breathing, usually comforting, only made the ache of your restlessness worse.

You tried everything. You had warmed up a glass of milk earlier, hoping it would relax you. You counted sheep until the numbers tangled in your head. You even tried lying perfectly still, pretending to sleep, hoping maybe your body would trick itself into drifting off. Nothing worked.

Eventually, frustration gave way to quiet desperation. You reached for your phone, dimmed the brightness, and scrolled through videos, thinking the background noise might lull you into drowsiness. But as the minutes dragged on, you still felt wide awake—your body exhausted but your mind unwilling to let go.

You turned your head toward Jaeden. He looked so peaceful, curled into the pillow, his hair falling slightly into his face. You didn’t want to disturb him. He’d been sleeping so soundly, and you knew he needed the rest just as much as you did. But the weight of the night pressed down on you, and the thought of lying awake for hours more felt unbearable.

Finally, you gave in. Scooting closer, you reached out and gently placed your hand on his arm. You hesitated for a moment, then gave him the softest shake.

“Jaeden… Jaeden… Jaeden…” you whispered.

He stirred, groaning lowly as his eyes fluttered open. His gaze was heavy with sleep, barely focused, but warm when it landed on you.

“Mmhm… what’s wrong, baby…?” he murmured, his voice gravelly and thick with drowsiness.

You looked at him, your face weary and eyes stinging from exhaustion. “I can’t sleep,” you admitted quietly. “Like… at all.”

Jaeden let out another tired groan, not of annoyance, but sympathy. Slowly, he stretched out one arm, patting the space beside him. His lips curved into the faintest, sleepy smile as he whispered, “Come here…”

His voice was heavy with fatigue, but the invitation was genuine—an offering of comfort, of safety. He waited, eyes half-closed, to see if you’d accept, his arm still held open for you.

And in that moment, despite the exhaustion clinging to your body, you felt something loosen in your chest.