When Danni woke up, the first thing she felt was the warmth of Chen Ke's body pressed against hers. Chen Ke's arms were wrapped tightly around her, as if she was afraid Danni would disappear in the night. Danni shifted slightly, trying not to wake her, but Chen Ke's grip only tightened, her face nestled against Danni's neck.
Danni blinked, her heart aching. Chen Ke looked different this morning—more fragile than she had ever seen her. Dark circles ringed her eyes, her skin pale from too many late nights and endless stress. Even in her sleep, Chen Ke's brow was slightly furrowed, as if the weight of everything followed her into her dreams.
Danni sighed softly. I miss you, Ke Ke. She missed the playful woman who used to make her laugh by sneaking up on her with tickles or pulling her into silly dances in the living room. She missed the way Chen Ke would cling to her like a koala and whisper ridiculous jokes in her ear, just to hear her laugh. Now, those moments felt like distant memories.
Carefully, Danni leaned in and kissed Chen Ke's temple, her lips lingering for a moment. "I love you, Ke Ke," she whispered, even though she knew Chen Ke was too deep in sleep to hear.
As much as Danni hated the distance that had grown between them, she knew how hard Chen Ke was trying—maybe too hard. She could see the toll it was taking on her, the exhaustion that was slowly breaking her down. And yet, despite everything, Chen Ke was still holding on. Still holding her—tightly, desperately, like she couldn't bear to let go.
Danni carefully slipped out of Chen Ke's arms, tucking the blanket around her. She padded barefoot into the kitchen, determined to do something small to lighten Chen Ke's load. She rummaged through the fridge, pulling out eggs, bread, and fresh vegetables. We'll have a good breakfast today, she thought.
She moved quietly through the kitchen, preparing their breakfast—fluffy scrambled eggs, toast, and stir-fried vegetables. As the scent of food filled the apartment, Danni's heart felt a little lighter. It reminded her of the early days of their relationship, when mornings were slow and full of shared moments over coffee and food.
She packed a lunch for Chen Ke, too—something she rarely had time to do herself. It wasn't much, just a simple bento box with rice, vegetables, and grilled chicken, but it felt good to care for Chen Ke this way.
Danni placed the breakfast plates on the dining table, then peeked into the bedroom. Chen Ke was still asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily. For a moment, Danni stood in the doorway, watching her with a soft smile.
By the time Chen Ke woke, the smell of breakfast had drawn her out of sleep. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and blinking in the soft morning light. Her body ached with fatigue, but the sight of Danni standing by the table, setting down two plates of food, filled her with warmth.
"Morning," Danni said, her voice soft but bright. "Come eat before it gets cold."
Chen Ke rubbed her face, trying to shake off the heaviness of sleep, and smiled—tired, but genuinely. "You made breakfast?"
"And lunch," Danni added with a grin. "Figured you could use a decent meal today."
Chen Ke's heart swelled, and she walked over to the table, pulling Danni into a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered against Danni's hair. "I mean it."
Danni leaned into her, savoring the rare moment of closeness. "You don't have to thank me, Ke Ke. Just... be here with me. That's all I want."
Chen Ke nodded, her heart heavy with both guilt and love. "I will. I promise."
