Response || Malum || (Sequel to Reaction)

17

Michael's POV

Silence. Complete and utter silence. There is just something a little bit sweeter of the silence at four in the morning. The plush mattress and soft sheets seem to ease my tension as I bury myself back into bed. Calum is breathing softly and I am careful not wake up while I try to get as close to him as I possibly can. Logan has been up every two hours on the dot and it's my night to get up with him. I practically feel the headache I'm going to have tomorrow, forming as I lie here trying to coax myself back into sleep. Who knew that a week with a newborn would make you this sleep deprived? Well I did because I read all the books and listened to Mali.

"Is he back asleep?" Calum's voice is groggy and muffled by the fact that his face is buried into his pillow. Maybe I wasn't as quiet as I had hoped.

"Yes finally." I whined, rolling onto my side to get a little closer to his warmth.

Calum's cheeks were scrunched up against the white linen sheets, his hair a dark mess on his head and onto his forehead. Even sleeping, well sort of, he looked exhausted. He inhaled a deep breath, lifted his head and body, and scooted closer to me to drape his arm over me.

"Sorry I woke you." In attempt to coo him back to sleep I kept my voice soft and my ghost of a kiss even softer.

"Wasn't you." He grumbled sleepily as he wiggled to get comfortable.

"Go back to sleep." This time my voice was even softer and Calum nodded once before drifting off again.

I managed to roll onto my back, letting Calum fall onto my chest so I could stare at the blank ceiling. There was an overwhelming feeling in my chest and it practically tightened every fiber of my being. The soft glow of a night light near the door, and the silver moonlight was the only light in the room. Both combined beautifully to give Calum an ora of white surrounding his sleeping silhouette. My feelings for him have never changed, never faltered, and have only intensified. Each day is something new to love him for. Our sleeping son is a symbol of our love as a whole as well as a bond that will never allow us to part.

The blank canvas of our bedroom ceiling provided a focal point as images of our lives together played out like a movie. Hard times, fights, his absence, the time we lost with each other, none of that could even come close to comparing with everything else. The first time I knew I was in love with him, the first time I told him so. Our first kiss, first date, our wedding and honeymoon. Those are the things I grab onto with white knuckles on the days nothing feels certain. On the days I feel upset or tired, Calum is the blanket I wrap myself in to escape the chill of the world. The life we've built as one is the house that my heart lives and will call home for an eternity.

This feeling, right now, is the feeling of something certain. Something whole and something that makes my heart beat each and every single day. Like all the choices I've made in my life were the right ones and I feel happy. Utterly and completely happy with my life. Never in a million years would I have pictured I'd be a month away from turning twenty four, married, with a week old son. It's insane to think about but I know it was the right choice. All of this was the right choice.

My eyes fluttered closed, a smile appearing on my lips and I took a deep breath in. This is what life is supposed to feel like. This feeling in my chest is the kind I've been begging for since I was a teenager. I had to go through hell to get it but it was well worth the fight.

I must've dosed off a little because when my eyes opened again, the clock read 6:00. There were faint noises flowing through the baby monitor that was next to the bed which meant Logan was probably waking up. I slowly pulled the covers from my body, slipping my feet off the bed one by one. Calum was curled up in a ball with a small smile on his face so I took advantage, climbing from the bed quickly. I sucked in a sharp breath when my bare feet hit the cold wood floor but immediately shushed myself. I scooped up the monitor and crept slowly towards the door, sneaking out of our room quickly.