POV: Leo

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual and asked the maids to prepare breakfast for Kes. I drank a cup of coffee while I waited, then picked up the tray myself and took it up to her room, choosing to bring it personally.

I had received an advanced dosage of my medication this morning and already swallowed two pills, which is probably why I was feeling far too confident walking in there. But the moment I stepped inside, I found her sprawled across the bed, hugging a giant teddy bear to herself like a child.

I stood there longer than I intended, imagining myself replacing that...