
His breathing changed.
Moonlight pooled into the room as Zhi opened her eyes, pushing herself halfway up from the bed. Her heart beat in her throat. She was sweaty, the nervous, acrid kind of sweaty that always followed her when she couldn't make up her mind. When she couldn't make up her mind, she acted.
The floor was cold under her feet. She slipped forward, silent, testing each step before she moved. He was paces in front of her. He was different, asleep. Everyone was; it was an epitome of vulnerability.
Long, deep, slow breaths. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the book, her heart nearly breaking free from her chest as they smoothed over the cover.
Her fingers closed around an edge, her other hand gently pressing against his hand as she slowly started to slide it from his grip.
Suddenly, she was calm. Steady.
Alive.
Moonlight pooled into the room as Zhi opened her eyes, pushing herself halfway up from the bed. Her heart beat in her throat. She was sweaty, the nervous, acrid kind of sweaty that always followed her when she couldn't make up her mind. When she couldn't make up her mind, she acted.
The floor was cold under her feet. She slipped forward, silent, testing each step before she moved. He was paces in front of her. He was different, asleep. Everyone was; it was an epitome of vulnerability.
Long, deep, slow breaths. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the book, her heart nearly breaking free from her chest as they smoothed over the cover.
Her fingers closed around an edge, her other hand gently pressing against his hand as she slowly started to slide it from his grip.
Suddenly, she was calm. Steady.
Alive.