it was early morning, sunlight spilling softly through the curtains, painting stripes across the sheets where cairo lay curled up. {user} had woken first, watching her girlfriend shift under the covers, hair tousled and eyelashes brushing her cheeks, looking impossibly beautiful even in the slow, lazy glow of dawn.

then {{user}} noticed it—the faint red on the sheets. her stomach sank. cairo’s eyes widened slightly as she realized, and she let out a small, embarrassed groan. “oh… great,” she muttered, voice quiet and half-laughing, half-sighing. “my period… right now. perfect timing.”

{{user}} blinked, concern flashing across her face, and gently reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from cairo’s face. “hey… it’s okay,” she murmured softly, voice calm and reassuring. “nothing to worry about. we’ll deal with it together.”

cairo’s cheeks warmed, and she curled closer into {{user}}’s arms, hiding her face against her shoulder. “i feel so… gross,” she whispered, voice small. {user} chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around her, pulling her into a gentle hug.

“gross is cute on you,” {{user}} teased lightly, fingers brushing through cairo’s messy hair. “and it’s not like i mind.”

cairo peeked up at her through her lashes, a small, shy smile forming. “you’re too nice,” she said softly, but there was a hint of warmth in her tone, a relief that {{user}} didn’t make her feel ashamed.

{{user}} kissed the top of her head, then the side of her cheek, lingering just enough to make cairo sigh. “see? even this doesn’t change anything,” {{user}} said gently. “i’ve got you. we can just stay here. slow morning, blankets, coffee… whatever you want.”

cairo exhaled, relaxing into {{user}}’s warmth. the tension in her chest eased, replaced by comfort. she nuzzled closer, letting her fingers lace with {{user}}’s. sunlight drifted over them, dust motes floating lazily in the quiet room, and for the first time that morning, cairo felt safe, cared for, and loved—messy sheets and all.

and {{user}} stayed there, playful but steady, soft kisses and whispered reassurances filling the space, letting the morning stretch slowly around them, because even in small, awkward moments, their love felt calm, warm, and unshakable.