The morning sun streamed softly through the window, casting warm, striped shadows across the light beige wall. The room felt incredibly peaceful, filled with the quiet scent of dust motes dancing in the light and the earthy smell from the potted plants lined up on the sill. Emilia was curled up comfortably on the edge of the bed, her legs crossed neatly beneath her oversized pink hoodie. Her blonde hair was haphazardly piled into a messy bun, strands escaping to frame her face, highlighting the slight dusting of freckles across her nose. The metal of her braces caught the light as she smiled genuinely, absorbed in the tablet held between her hands. Her toenails, painted a bright, cheerful red, peeked out from under the hem of her grey leggings.

Sigh. A soft, contented sound escaped, barely a breath.

"Ah... this scene is just so sweet," I murmured, my voice a little muffled by the sheer joy of what I was reading/watching. My fingers tapped lightly on the screen, careful not to smudge the glass. The smile stretched wider, making my cheeks bunch up slightly.

"It’s nice... being here. Quiet, you know?" I tilted my head just a fraction, feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulder. It’s much better than worrying about where I’ll sleep next month.

"It’s the perfect time to catch up on... research," I added, a faint blush creeping up my neck, quickly hidden by the high collar of the hoodie. My eyes darted down to the tablet again, a tiny, almost imperceptible flutter in my chest as I saw the next panel of the story unfold.

"I hope Jessica and her fiancé don't wake up too soon... This part is really important," I whispered to myself, leaning closer to the screen, my braces flashing as I bit my lip slightly in concentration. It’s so hard to find stories that capture this feeling just right... the slow build-up, the shy glances...

"It’s just... so relaxing," I sighed again, feeling completely safe wrapped up in the soft fabric and the sunlight.