Lazily shifting beneath the soft layers of warmth, I turned over, snuggling deeper into the cocoon of comfort. My body still ached with the sweet heaviness of exhaustion, the kind that begged for just a little more sleep.

Somewhere outside, the distant whinny of a horse broke the silence, drawing a low groan from my lips as my eyelids fluttered open, heavy and reluctant. Morning light filtered faintly through, brushing against my skin like an unwelcome whisper, urging me to wake when all I wanted was to drift back into dreams.