The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly good. The memories of our day at the beach with Carmen lingered in my mind like a warm, comforting blanket. For the first time in days, I felt a sense of normalcy, a glimmer of hope that things might get better.
The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I stretched, feeling the slight ache in my muscles from the previous day's activities, but it was a pleasant reminder of the joy we had shared. As I lay there, I heard the faint sounds of Carmen moving around in the kitchen. A small smile crept onto my face.
A few minutes later, Carmen walked in, balancing a tray of breakfast. Her face lit up when she saw me awake. "Good morning, sunshine," she said softly, placing the tray on the bedside table.
"Good morning," I replied, sitting up and propping myself against the pillows. "What's all this?"