I carried so much shame into this room. Shame for the damage I caused. For the ways I left you lonely even when I was beside you. For how I treated something sacred like it was ordinary. I'll never stop wishing I could undo those things but tonight—you—you reminded me that love isn't about undoing. It's about choosing and you chose me again.
Do you know how holy that is? To be trusted by you? After everything?
Your bravery takes my breath away. Your softness undoes me and your love—this love—is the safest thing I've ever known.
I will spend the rest of my life honoring what you gave me tonight. I won't forget. I won't take it for granted. I'll hold this moment like I held you: gently, fully, with everything I have.
We are still writing this 온라인카지노게임. And tonight was a new chapter.
For October. For always.
Love,
 Thomas
I woke to the faint sound of laughter, October's, light and bright, curling through the room like music I hadn't realized I'd been missing. For a second, I thought I was dreaming. Then I turned my head.
She was perched on the edge of the bed, knees tucked beneath her, wearing one of my old t-shirts, her hair still sleep-messy and wild. Her eyes sparkled with that mischievous glow that used to undo me in a heartbeat. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, voice playful as she nudged me with a pillow.
I groaned, rubbing my eyes like I hadn't just spent half the night hoping she'd still be there when I woke up. "You're early."
"Am I?" she grinned, tugging the blanket down a little so she could see me better. "Or maybe I just couldn't wait to see you again."
Her fingers brushed against mine, soft, unhurried, and suddenly the bed felt too big without her curled up beside me. I reached for her hand and gave it a gentle tug, wordlessly inviting her back into the space I'd been saving for her.
She crawled under the covers without hesitation, settling against me like she belonged there. Like she never left. We lay like that for a while, just breathing each other in, skin warm against skin, hearts beating in sync. She looked up at me, her voice low and drowsy. "You know," she murmured, "we should probably get up but I don't want to move yet."
I kissed the tip of her nose and smiled against her skin. "Me neither."
So we stayed like that, tangled in warmth and memory, the world quietly waiting on the other side of the bedroom door. It was the kind of morning we'd only dared to dream about during the harder months, uncomplicated, quiet, full of promise.
Of course, the universe had other plans.
Without warning, the door flew open with a bang loud enough to make us both flinch.
"DAAAD!" came Alice's voice, shrill with excitement as she barreled into the room like a tiny whirlwind.
I instinctively grabbed at the sheets, yanking them up to my chin like I was starring in some sort of awkward sitcom. "Morning, sweetheart!" I croaked, voice cracking slightly. "Could you maybe—uh—give us a second?"
Too late. She was already on the bed, bouncing, tugging at the edge of the covers like it was a curtain she fully intended to yank open. "Come ON! I made a drawing and you have to see it now or it disappears!"
October was laughing so hard her shoulders shook, offering zero assistance as I scrambled to keep the blanket securely around me.
"Sweetie," she managed between giggles, "Daddy's just... not ready to get up yet."
"Not ready?" Alice frowned. "Is he in trouble?"
"No, no trouble," I said quickly, my voice half-muffled by the pillow I was trying to disappear into. "I just need a minute, kiddo. Grown-up stuff. Very serious blanket-related business."
Alice tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "You look weird."
"That's because I'm hiding," I said, trying to sound mysterious rather than mildly panicked. "It's part of a very important game. The Stay-in-Bed Challenge. Very advanced."
October snorted. "He's losing."
Alice looked at both of us suspiciously, like we were trying to keep the best game a secret from her. "Can I play?"
"Maybe later," October said, sliding off the bed and gently guiding her toward the door. "Right now, why don't you go check on Lola? I think Jimmy made her breakfast."
"He did," Alice said proudly. "He said 'Madam, your juice awaits,' and bowed like this—" She gave a dramatic, wobbly bow, nearly toppling over.
"Perfect. Go make sure he doesn't drink all the juice."
"Okay!" she chirped, and darted out of the room, slamming the door behind her with all the subtlety of a marching band.
I exhaled loudly, flopping back onto the pillow. "Well. That was terrifying."
October climbed back under the covers, grinning. "You handled it with such grace."
"I was five seconds away from throwing myself out the window."
She kissed my cheek. "Next time, maybe sleep with at least a little dignity."
"Dignity's overrated," I murmured, wrapping my arm around her. Then I burst out laughing. It started with a giggle, half panic, half relief, and then I just let it out, pressing my face into the mattress.
I reached for her hand under the covers. "I know it's chaos. I know we're a mess half the time. But I don't think I've ever been this happy."
She leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Me neither."
Just like that, beneath the muffled sounds of cartoon voices and waffle negotiations drifting down the hall, and broken stuff, I felt it again, pride, contentment, the overwhelming certainty that despite the madness, we'd finally built something worth holding onto.