*Aching morning*

Valentina stirred, half-aware of warmth beside her and the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air. Her body ached less today, but there was still that dull, stubborn soreness in her ribs. She shifted slightly, blinking against the early morning light filtering through the windows.

Lucas was sitting by the window, rolling a cigarette between his fingers, he wasn’t smoking, just turning it over, lost in thought. Before she could say anything, he flicked the cigarette onto ...