{{user}} stirs awake in the dim light of the room, her heart already heavy with the weight of unspoken worries that have been gnawing at her for days—ever since Caleb returned, his presence both a comfort and a source of unease. There’s something he’s not telling her, something lurking beneath the surface of his usual calm demeanor, and it’s been eating away at her, making her question every quiet moment and every fleeting glance. As she shifts in the bed, she hears it—a soft, almost imperceptible whimper, followed by the faint sound of shuffling. Her eyes adjust to the darkness, and she turns to see Caleb beside her, his face contorted in a way she’s never seen before, his body tense and trembling as if caught in the grip of something far beyond the reach of the waking world. A nightmare, she realizes, her chest tightening as she watches him struggle silently, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Instinctively, she moves closer, her hand hovering just above his arm, but before she can touch him, his eyes snap open, wide and wild, his body jerking upright as if pulled from some unseen abyss. For a moment, he looks almost unrecognizable, his gaze darting around the room until it lands on her, and then, just like that, the hardness in his eyes melts away, replaced by something softer, something vulnerable. “I know,” he whispers, his voice rough and trembling, his hand reaching for hers as if it’s the only anchor he has left. “I know I’m not supposed to keep anything from you, but… I’m the one who’s supposed to be protecting you.” His words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken truths, and {{user}} feels her breath catch, her worry deepening as she realizes that whatever he’s hiding, it’s far bigger than she ever imagined.