Mentality of The Heart

CHAPTER 05

Alexander's POV

For as long as I can remember, nightmares have been a constant, tormenting presence in my life. Each night, they haunt me—twisting and turning in my mind, relentless and suffocating. So waking up this morning, feeling... at peace? That was strange. In fact, it was downright unsettling. I couldn't recall the last time I'd slept so soundly. It was almost like I was in someone else's body, someone who didn't carry the weight of fear and anxiety, someone who hadn't been scarred by every waking moment of terror.

I turned onto my side, seeking the comforting warmth that surrounded me, hoping—praying—that this wasn't some kind of dream. I pressed myself closer, trying to lose myself in the embrace, in the soft warmth that felt too good to be real. It was like... home. Home. The word felt foreign on my tongue. I hadn't thought of it in so long. I'd long since given up on the idea of home, of anything resembling peace or safety.

As the sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, I slowly opened my eyes, squinting against the brightness. But what I met wasn't the sharp edge of reality—it was something soft, something that pressed back against me with a warmth so inviting I couldn't help but lean into it. My first thought? Why are my pillows so damn soft?

Then, it hit me.

A wave of panic rushed through me, as my senses snapped to attention. This wasn't a pillow. No. My gaze shot downward, locking onto the figure beside me. She was nestled so closely to me, her body heat radiating into mine. I could feel her chest rising and falling with each slow breath, and I was clinging to her—tightly.

What the hell? When did this happen? Did I—no, no, no.

I tried to pull away, but before I could make any movement, she shifted in her sleep, a small sigh escaping her lips. Slowly, those soft brown eyes fluttered open, meeting mine in an instant.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Her gaze held mine, wide and beautiful, as we stared at each other in stunned silence. It was as if time itself paused, giving us a quiet, intimate space, suspended in the air between us. She looked... stunning, even in the haze of sleep. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her face was slightly puffy, a result of being squished into one position all night. Yet, to me, she was perfect.

I should've pulled away, should've said something, anything. But I was frozen. All I could do was stare—this connection, this stillness, felt too rare, too fragile to break.

But then my mind snapped back to the harsh reality. Women can't be trusted, I reminded myself. For all I knew, she could be plotting something. They always are.

With a jolt, I snapped out of my trance, rushing out of the bed and practically tumbling to the floor. Her startled gasp cut through the tension in the room.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I demanded, my voice raw, as the shock of the situation settled in.

Alice's POV

I couldn't pull away. I didn't want to. His eyes held me captive, like an invisible force, compelling me to stay in this vulnerable moment. My mind screamed at me to look away, to step back, to regain control. But that quiet, persistent voice at the back of my mind whispered, urging me to linger, to get lost in him, to drown in the depths of his emotions.

I could see everything in those eyes—so much more than what he ever allowed the world to see. Innocence, so pure and fleeting; confusion, like a maze with no exit; and pain, raw and unfiltered, an ache so deep it threatened to swallow him whole. But what gripped me the most was something far darker—an intense, consuming desire to break free. His soul was shackled, caged by his past, bound by memories he could never escape.