I was sharing a bed with Yumi, a habit that had become a strange, comforting anchor in the chaotic sea of my new life. She was fast asleep, her small body curled into a ball, her silvery-white hair a stark, beautiful contrast against the dark, silken sheets of the guest room. I woke her gently, my own heart a heavy, reluctant drum in my chest.
"Yumi," I whispered, my voice a low, soft murmur in the pre-dawn quiet. "Time to wake up."
Her crimson, illusion-wrought eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. "Ashy?" she mumbled, her voice a sleepy, contented purr.
"I have to go somewhere today," I said, my voice a little rougher than I intended. "I don't know how long it will take, but I'll be back by the end of the day."
Her glowing eyes, which had been so soft and sleepy, immediately clouded over with a profound, heart-wrenching disappointment. "But… you promised," she whispered, her lower lip trembling. "You promised we would explore today."
