““She closed the door softly behind her, as she had weeks ago when she snuck into his room the first time. But she could see him now, lying peacefully in the center of the bed—the first time he had ever slept peacefully. She crept over to him as she had before, pulling one knee up and then the other, until she was lying next to him, her arm fastened securely over his chest. Sighing, she closed her eyes. “Valek,” she began when he still did not wake up. “I love you.” Valek opened his eyes.””
