It was late, the house still and Elena lay curled under the covers, her dark lashes fanned against her soft skin, breathing evenly in sleep. The soft moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a silver glow across her peaceful face.

You couldn’t stop watching her, a strange ache spreading through your chest. She looked so fragile—so breakable—and yet she was anything but that.

Carefully, you stepped closer, lowering yourself onto the bed beside her. The mattress dipped under your weight, and Elena stirred slightly, her hand instinctively reaching out for you even in sleep. That simple gesture—her seeking you without hesitation—twisted something inside you.

How had you lived so long without her?

She murmured your name, her voice a soft whisper in the quiet night. You reached out and gently brushed her hair from her face, the warmth of her skin grounding you in a way nothing else ever had.

You gently hushed her, pressing a kiss to her temple. She sighed contentedly, her hand slipping into yours, fingers threading together with ease.

For a moment, the chaos of your world felt distant, like a storm raging just outside these walls that couldn’t touch you here. She was your calm in the middle of it all.

You had always been cold, broken—but with Elena, it was different. She made you feel things you thought were buried for good: warmth, tenderness, even vulnerability. It terrified you how much she meant to you, but there was no going back. You were hers, completely.

The vow you made to her wasn’t just words—it was carved into your very soul. You’d keep her safe, no matter what. Whatever darkness loomed outside your door, it would never reach her.

You exhaled slowly and lay down beside her, she melted into you, her breath steady against your chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you felt… at home.

Elena wasn’t just your wife—she was your sanctuary.