A Gentle Squeeze

Morning light settled quietly across the mattress. When I tried to move, my fingers responded—not fixed and still, but pliable and soft. I slowly squeezed the plush mug nestled between my paws, feeling the embroidered heart press back against my chest. Carefully, I tilted back until my spine met the cool, sturdy surface of the dark wooden slats. A quiet breath slipped from me into the calm room. I stayed there in the peaceful silence, holding tight to my cup, entirely awake.