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“Where exactly are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said, carrying me toward his bedroom. “But first, let’s get you cleaned up. You do look like a mess”

He set me down gently on the edge of the bed and went to the bathroom to prepare the shower. I could hear the water running, and the sound was oddly soothing. When he returned, he had a warm, inviting and infectious smile on his face.

“Come on, let’s clean you up,” he said, extending his hand.

I took his hand and let him lead me to the bathroom. The steam from the hot water filled the room, enveloping us in a cozy warmth. He helped me undress. Once I was under the warm spray, he carefully washed my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp in a way that made me feel both relaxed and I almost fell asleep.

As he rinsed out the shampoo, I closed my eyes and let the water wash away the remnants of my tears and the stress of the past few days. For the first time in what felt like forever, I began to feel a sense of calm.

After the shower, he w