POV: Siena Blake

The morning came too early.

I opened my eyes before the sun even began to rise. There was no alarm buzzing beside me, no work shift forcing me out of bed, and no real reason to be awake so early—but my body wouldn’t let me rest. Sleep had slipped through my fingers like water in the dark, and no matter how tightly I closed my eyes, it refused to return.

I lay on my back, still and quiet, staring at the cracked ceiling above me. My hand moved slowly, almost without thinking, and settled gently over my lower stomach. I didn’t press hard. Just let it rest...