Isabella had fallen asleep with the blanket pulled over her head, her cheeks still damp from the quiet tears she didn't want to admit were real. She didn't remember when exactly her eyes closed, only that her chest had felt tight, and her heart had whispered things she wasn't ready to hear.
By the time the sun lit up the room the next morning, she stirred gently, blinking at the golden light slipping through the window. Her lashes fluttered as she slowly sat up, the blanket slipping from her shoulders.
She was alone.
She glanced around sleepily at first, then properly and felt her chest sink. The door was open. She hadn't closed it when she ran in the night before. If Leonardo had come in, she would have known. There was no sign of anyone.
This was her room.
He wasn't staying here.
She sniffled softly and rubbed her eyes. Her heart dropped lower as she hugged her knees for a second, just sitting there quietly on the bed, letting herself feel the emptiness.
