Chapter 11: Morning After
The next morning, Jamal stirred awake, the events of the night before rushing back to him.
He blinked as he is eyes landed first on Abigail, who was still fast asleep beside him, snoring softly.
Her face was serene; her features softened in sleep. The way her dark lashes fanned against her cheeks and her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm made his breath hitch.
There was something so peaceful, almost fragile, about her at this moment, and for some reason, Jamal couldn't look away.
Why did she feel so familiar? Why did he keep seeing Dawn's face when he looked at her? The thought was unsettling, yet he couldn't deny the connection he felt.
It was as though the universe was mocking him for his loss. Or was it a reward? Was he being rewarded for his faithfulness and steadfast love by being offered someone who resembled the version of Dawn he remembered so much?
He sighed deeply, running a hand over his face as he remembered all that had happened between them the night before.
Last night had been... different. It wasn't just because it was his first time. It was the way everything had unfolded— the laughter, the vulnerability, the way she had looked at him as if he were the only person in the world.
He smiled when he remembered all their conversations and how she had smiled shyly when he told her she was special.
[You don't even know me. What if I'm not as great as you think I am?] she had asked him.
"I don't need to know everything about you to know you're special. Some things you just feel, you know?" He had told her.