The piercing sound of my alarm jolted me awake, and I groggily reached over to silence it. As I slowly emerged from the hazy realm of sleep, the weight of the previous day's events settled upon me. I turned to Jess, her peaceful form still cocooned in the warmth of the blankets, and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, silently wishing her a day filled with tranquility. Making my way to the kitchen, I dressed for the da...