Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta carefully lifted Rem's arm from around her waist and turned over.

She had stayed up waiting for him to come home last night, leaving the curtains open so she could see the driveway light up the moment he arrived. But at some point, she had drifted off to sleep.

Now the bedroom was filled with the bright light of morning, and Lizetta lay there in the warm winter sun, quietly watching the man beside her.

His face was strikingly handsome; every feature of him perfectly aligned with her ideal of beauty.

Or perhaps, her idea of beauty had been shaped by him.

Before she even knew what handsome meant, she had regarded Rem as the most handsome man in the world.

That's why, no matter how many years had passed, every time she saw his face, her heart still skipped a beat.

He must have stayed at the hospital all of yesterday, because even in his sleep, there was a hint of weariness on his brow.

Without thinking, Lizetta reached out and gently smoothed his furrowed brow.

Her touch was light, but Rem suddenly opened his eyes.

of his, sharp and clear even just after waking, looked into

heart jump, and she curled

"Did I wake you?"

retreating hand, squeezed her fingertips gently, and brought them to his lips for a

with a voice husky from sleep, he

"Good morning, honey."

expected him to call her "honey" so casually. Despite being married for so long, this was the first time he had greeted her like that in the morning, in bed. With her heartbeat quickening, and

did you get back last night? Is

the subject, feeling

mood,

closer into

well, but she's

smiled and let

at you, your eyes are all

made it through, Rem would have been devastated. Lizetta didn't want anyone to suffer, not

him to get some more rest, but when he kept looking at her, she covered

hand away to look at her again before suddenly asking,