Aurelia didn't sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw flashes of twisted metal… heard the echo of her mother's last scream… felt her father's hand reaching but never reaching enough.
By the time morning light touched the curtains, her eyes were puffy and her body felt heavy with exhaustion.
She sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees, when a soft knock sounded on the door.
Eren entered without waiting for permission, though he moved slowly, as if afraid he might startle her. He carried a tray with warm milk, toast, and sliced fruit.
"Morning," he said gently.
Aurelia didn't answer, but she didn't look away either.
Eren placed the tray on the small table and glanced at her. "You didn't eat dinner yesterday. So the kitchen made something simple."
Aurelia stared at the food as if it were a foreign object.
Her stomach twisted—not in hunger, but in hurt.
Eren seemed to understand.
He walked toward her, keeping his steps quiet, and sat on the carpeted floor right in front of where she sat on the bed.
He didn't touch her.
He didn't force her to talk.
He just stayed.
Minutes passed in silence.
Finally, Aurelia whispered, "I… I had nightmares."
Eren looked up.
"What did you dream of?"
She curled tighter into herself. "The accident."
His jaw clenched ever so slightly—barely noticeable, but real.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly.
Aurelia shook her head.
He nodded, accepting her silence.
"Then I'll stay with you until you can sleep without being scared."
Aurelia blinked. "You… will?"
Eren's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"I promised you, didn't I?"
She didn't know why, but something about the way he said it made her chest warm—just a little. A tiny light in a dark place.
Slowly, Aurelia slid down from the bed and sat beside him on the floor. Her shoulder brushed his arm. She didn't realize she was shaking until Eren placed a careful, steadying hand on her back.
"I won't leave," he said.
"I'll always be close enough for you to reach."
She swallowed hard. "But… you're older."
Eren let out a soft laugh—his first in front of her. "I'm not that old."
"You're fifteen," she said seriously.
"And you're ten," he teased lightly. "Someday you'll catch up."
Aurelia frowned, thinking. "How long will you… stay with me?"
Eren hesitated.
Not because he didn't know the answer.
But because the answer meant more than she could understand.
"I'll be with you," he said quietly, "for as long as you want me to be."
Aurelia looked at him—truly looked at him—for the first time since they met.
He didn't feel like a stranger anymore.
Not with the way he spoke.
Not with the way he stayed beside her without expecting anything in return.
Not with the way he looked at her like she mattered.
"Eren…" she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Can you… stay here tonight too?"
Eren nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Her shoulders relaxed for the first time in days.
That night, and the next night, and the many nights after, Eren sat in her room until she fell asleep—sometimes in a chair, sometimes on the floor, sometimes leaning back against her bed with his arms crossed as if guarding her dreams.
It became normal.
Natural.
Constant.
The estate was still cold.
Her grandfather was still distant.
Her parents were still gone.
But Aurelia was no longer alone.
And without either of them realizing it,
a bond was forming—steady, unbreakable, and destined to grow into something far more powerful than either understood.