hand down his face as he blinked at the dim, gray light filtering through the tattered curtains. The room was small, the wallpaper p

kind of deep fatigue that lingered no matter how much rest he tried to get. But there was no time

e docks. Another long shift awaited, followed by hours at the warehouse, but the exhaustion didn't deter him.

e feet, waking him fully. His reflection in the cracked mirror caught his eye, and for a moment, he stared at the man looking b

the quiet strength in her eyes even as she faced the battles ahead. It was for her that he tie

ashing against the shore. The docks loomed in the distance, a hive of activity even at this ea

painting the sky with streaks of pink and gold. The fishing boats bobbe

r once," called Old Tom, his wea

smile as he grabbed his gloves. "The s

ace for a moment longer than usual. "You're a good ma

of the net, every crate loaded onto the boat, he reminded himself why he was doing this. Eleanor's medical bills were

rmen, his body moving on autopilot. His hands were raw, his back screamed for relief, but his mi

the exhaustion was bone-deep, but Liam pushed through it. Each box he

re for her a future where she could breathe easy, laugh without pain, and live the life

nor was wort

s, the sea reflecting the fading light like molten glass. His muscles protested with every step, his back a

cuts as his mind spun. He'd promised Mrs. Carma he'd help her with dinner, and Eleanor still needed to be c

ell of lavender soap and freshly baked bread greeting him. Mrs. Carma was at t

hout turning, her tone clip

is jacket and hanging it on the back of

a seasoned interrogator. Her graying hair was pulled into a loose bun,

g back to the sink. "How long do you think you

through his salt-tinged hair. "I'll be fine, M

nk I don't see the way you stumble in here like a zombie? You're going to run your

bridge of his nose. "I c

She turned to face him fully, wiping her hands on a dishrag. "I know you're trying to be st

ught about opening up, about telling her just how exhausted he really was. But then he thought of E

sked instead, defle

s she let out a weary sigh. "She's resting now. She had a rough d

he had to shield him, that she carried her own pain i

," he said, pushin

ntler now. "You're doing enough. More than enough

cking somewhere in his chest. Taking car

a golden hue over her pale face. She was curled up under a thi

d quietly, st

faint smile tugging at her lips

," he replied, pulling a chair clos

h the edge of the quilt. "Tired. Same

est his elbows on his knees. "S

a whisper. "You're already doing so much, Liam. To

t get to decide that, Ellie. I'm here because I want to be, b

, gently brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Ellie," he said softly, "w

k. "I just hate seeing you like this so t

hesitation, his voice steady. "And I'm

isn't just for you. It's for us. For the life we're going to have

pping down her cheek.

ushing the tear away. "And I'll p

g with his. For a moment, the exhaustion and pain melted

e whispered, he

his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Jus

r-filled eyes, Liam felt the weight on his shoulders shift eve