𝐌𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐍.

𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄.

⌖ AFTERMATH | O65. ‹ ⚜ ›
❝ it doesn't have to be long for me to know i want another child jasiah, but it takes a lifetime to stop wanting the ones i lost. ❞

— JUNE EIGHTEENTH,
THE NEXT MORNING
9:45 A.M. ᐟ

Iris woke up slowly, disoriented, her cheek pressed against the warmth of Jasiah's bare chest. For a moment, she didn't know how they ended up on the couch, tangled together with the early morning light spilling in. Then fragments of the night came rushing back to her.

She shifted slightly, the blanket slipping from her shoulder, & she realized she was completely bare beneath it. Her shirt lay crumpled on the floor, abandoned along with the rest of their clothes. Jasiah was still asleep, his arm draped over her waist, his breathing slow & deep.

Carefully, she slipped out from under his arm, gathering the blanket around herself as she rose to her feet. The house was quiet & her steps were light as she climbed the stairs. She walked into the nursery after clothing herself, the sunlight filled through the sheer curtains, painting the room gold. Asiah was awake, lying on his back in his crib, his little fingers curled around his toes through the fabric of his onesie while he stared up at the shifting patterns of light with an expression so calm.

She leaned on the crib's edge, her heart softening at the sight before Asiah's hands reached toward her. "Hey, my babyyy." She cooed softly, her voice warm as she lifted Asiah from the crib. His body melted against her, the faint scent of baby lotion still on his skin from last night. She carried him to the rocking chair by the window, the morning light catching in his big soft curls as she settled down with him in her lap.

She could never get over that striking blue eye of his. Every time she looked at it, she wanted to stop in her tracks—not in a bad way, never that—but in awe. "Good morning, love. How are you, hmm?" She whispered with a smile, pressing a kiss to his forehead. As she bounced him gently, Asiah's mouth spread into a wide grin, his tiny front teeth peeking through as he giggled. "Oh, there's my happy boy." She giggled. "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving. What about you, huh? You hungry too?" He didn't answer, of course, just kept smiling up at her, as if the sun itself had settled in his eyes.

After a while, downstairs, the faint sound of movement drifted up to her where she could hear pots clinking. So with Asiah resting comfortably against her hip, she made her way down the stairs, the scent of something savory already filling the space.

Jasiah was in the kitchen, still shirtless, moving around the kitchen as he gathered more items to cook. When his eyes flicked up & met hers, there was a moment of hesitation in his. It was quick, almost like he was stealing the glance from her but he looked away just as fast, focusing on the cutting board he stepped in front of. He knew what last night had been, but he also knew it didn't erase everything between them.