As she left the warmth of his embrace, Sophia felt a chill seep into her very bones. She hastily burrowed under the covers, turning away from the man who had held her. A single tear slipped down her cheek, swallowed silently by the darkness.

When Sophia awoke, he was gone. The emptiness beside her was as palpable as the faint ache in her chest. She pushed the feeling away, masking her disappointment as she rose, dressed, and set about getting ready for the day. Splashes of cold ...