The Little Ray of the Light by Anastasia Puhachuk

 Jace didn't move, didn't blink, didn't breathe without her.

Before his wife he simply stared into space, as if into the void that had replaced his entire world. Jace approached his wife as quietly as he could. He sat by the bed, staring into space, pondering. How had his life gotten him to this point? Everything around him was different, his worldview, his life. Without her, nothing brought him joy, his emotions had faded, and then she lit his path like a guiding star. How had he allowed others to paint his world in black and white? Where was the turning point where life lost its vibrant colors? Now that time seemed so far away. His fingers clenched until his knuckles turned white, and his breath a barely perceptible whisper. She had returned to his life again, giving him the chance to breathe. My favorite little ray of light,” he thought, looking at her, not daring to brush a strand of hair away from Mia’s face. She slept so peacefully that he didn’t want to disturb the Sleeping Beauty. He knew she didn’t like being called like that, but every time she fell asleep, the description fit her perfectly. A strand of her hair softly slid across her cheek, but he didn’t dare move it. He simply sat beside her, studying the features of her face — so familiar and yet somehow new — calm, without fear. Just as he had always dreamed of seeing them. She breathed evenly, her chest rising almost imperceptibly—and in that silence, he felt alive. Only when he was near her. But now, in this brief moment, she was his Mia. The one he had once met. Their meeting was a miracle he couldn't explain. Jace remembered the rain. He had ducked into a small café, more to escape the storm than to seek company. And there was Mia sitting by the window with a book in her hands. She asked his name and this information was enough for her. Than ,” she exclaimed with delight. Jace, look at that rain! Let’s go outside!

“You’re serious?” he asked.

“ Are you afraid of getting wet? It’s warm outside, and the garden looks so beautiful. It would be a sin not to enjoy the moment.”

“No, but—” he began, only to be cut off immediately.

“Don’t ruin the atmosphere. It’s gorgeous out there - the warm rain, the garden… Don’t you want to just run out into it?”

“You’re crazy,”

“Otherwise it would be boring. Admit it - you like this about me,” she laughed, stepping outside.

Jace sighed, a smile tugging at his lips. He wanted only one thing—for Mia to be happy. “I admit without you, my life would be black and white.” For Jace, it was the return of light to his life. The girl who had entered his life had upended everything he knew. From that time, she is the one he still loved passionately. He loved quietly. Carefully.

“You’re staring again.”

Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, found him instantly, as though they had always known where to look.

“I wasn’t,” he said automatically.

She gave a faint smile. “You always say that.”

I didn’t want to wake you,” he added after a pause, his voice quieter

“You didn’t,” she replied. “You never do. I just feel when you're near and enjoy this every time”