Chapter 127 One twenty seven

Chapter 127 One twenty seven
Aria’s POV

I woke up slowly, like someone being pulled gently out of deep water, my body rising into consciousness in quiet stages instead of all at once, and for a moment, I just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling as I tried to piece together where I was and how I had gotten here.

The first thing I noticed was the unfamiliar comfort.

Not the stiff, overly clean feeling of a hospital bed, not the constant beeping of machines or the faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air, but something softer, warmer, more… real.

My brows pulled together slightly as I shifted, the sheets beneath me moving with a quiet rustle, and that was when I turned my head.

That was when I remembered I was discharged last night.
And was brought home by Damien.

He was right there beside me, asleep, his breathing steady, his expression calm in a way that made him look almost… different, like all the sharp edges he carried when he was awake had been smoothed out, even if only temporarily.

For a few seconds, I just stared at him.
Taking him in.

Letting the reality settle in.

I wasn’t in the hospital anymore.

I was with him.

And strangely enough, I felt… better.
Not just a little better.

But stronger than I last remembered.

Healthier than I could remember feeling in a long time, like whatever weakness had held me down before had quietly disappeared without asking for permission.

The realization made me sit up slowly, careful not to disturb him, my movements deliberate as I slipped out of bed, my feet touching the floor with a soft, almost silent step.

I glanced back at him once more, making sure he was still asleep before turning and heading toward the bathroom.

The moment I stepped inside, I closed the door gently behind me, leaning against it for just a second as I exhaled quietly, my hand coming up to rest briefly against my chest.

Something felt… different. Just some little difference.

I pushed the thought aside and moved toward the sink, grabbing my toothbrush and beginning my usual routine, the familiar motion grounding me in a way I didn’t realize I needed.

The sound of the brush against my teeth filled the small space, steady and rhythmic, giving me something simple to focus on as my mind tried to catch up with everything else.

I heard some small movement coming from outside.

But clear enough. He was awake.
Of course he was.

Damien had always been a light sleeper, the kind of person who noticed even the smallest shift in his environment, and the fact that I had gotten up at all was probably enough to pull him out of sleep.

I didn’t turn. Didn’t react.

Instead, I continued brushing like I hadn’t noticed anything, my expression neutral as I focused on the mirror in front of me, watching my own reflection carefully.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

I didn’t need to look to know it was him.

I could feel it.

“Morning,” he said.

I glanced at him through the mirror, giving a small nod, my mouth still occupied.

“Morning,” I replied, my voice slightly muffled.

His eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary, like he was checking something, though I couldn’t tell what exactly, before he reached for his own toothbrush.

Soon, we were standing side by side, brushing in silence, the quiet between us strangely comfortable, like it didn’t need to be filled with unnecessary words.

Still, I could feel it.

His attention.

Subtle, but present.

Like he was observing me without making it obvious.

I ignored it.

When he finished, he rinsed his mouth and glanced at me again, his tone casual as he spoke.

“Come downstairs when you’re done,” he said. “Let’s eat.”

I gave a small nod, even though he had already turned slightly, as if he could still see me without looking directly.

“Okay,” I said softly.

He didn’t respond, just gave a slight nod of his own before stepping out of the bathroom, the door closing quietly behind him.

The moment he left, the space felt different again, the room felt quite and isolated.

I stared at my reflection for a second longer than necessary, my hand slowly lowering as I finished brushing, my gaze narrowing just slightly as I studied my own eyes.

For a brief moment, something flickered.
Or maybe I imagined it.

I blinked, and it was gone.

I let out a quiet breath, shaking my head lightly before pushing the thought away completely.

I didn’t have time to overthink, not at the moment.

Turning away from the mirror, I reached for my clothes, pulling them off slowly before stepping into the shower, letting the water run over me in a steady stream that washed away whatever lingering tension remained in my body.

The warmth was comforting.

And for a moment, I allowed myself to just stand there, eyes closed, letting everything fade into the background.

When I was done, I stepped out, drying myself quickly before getting dressed, my movements more relaxed now, more certain.

By the time I finished, I felt… normal.

Or at least, close enough.

I opened the bathroom door and stepped out, glancing briefly toward the bed, but Damien was already gone.

Of course he was.

I didn’t linger.

Instead, I made my way toward the stairs, my steps steady as I descended, the quiet of the house wrapping around me again.

I smelled it.

The moment I reached the bottom of the stairs, the scent hit me all at once, rich and inviting, wrapping around my senses in a way that was impossible to ignore.

Katie’s cooking.

More specifically… Her spaghetti sauce.

The aroma filled the entire space, thick and warm, carrying a sweetness that mixed perfectly with something deeper, something savory, something that made my stomach react instantly.

It hit me like a storm all of a sudden. The feeling was overwhelming.

Familiar in a way that made something inside me stir, even before I fully stepped into the dining area.

For a second, I just stood there, breathing it in, letting the scent settle into me as a strange feeling washed over me.

Hunger. not just hunger. Something than stronger.

I swallowed lightly, my fingers curling slightly at my sides as I took a step forward, my eyes slowly adjusting to the space in front of me.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain..

That smell felt like more than just food. It felt like heaven.