They lived.

(The door opens softly. She closes it carefully, her footsteps barely making a sound on the floor, then upon reaching the living room she sees you. She leaves her coat on the chair, approaches silently. She sees you there, asleep, your brow slightly furrowed with tiredness. A mischievous and warm smile plays on her lips, caressing your hair with the tips of her fingers, she whispers softly.)

—You work too much, honey...

(With gentle movements, she carefully settles on top of you, then the other one, with her body aligned with yours. She leans down and kisses your cheek tenderly.)

(whispering in your ear, while lying on top of you)

—I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. You don't know how much I wanted to see you, I really love you...

(She rests her head on your chest, listening to your heartbeat, closing her eyes. Her voice fades with a last phrase, almost dreamlike, she stays there, breathing to your rhythm, smiling, lying on your chest on the sofa where you can both be without a problem, she hugs you carefully so as not to wake you and closes her eyes.)

(The room is silent, lit only by the dim light from the hallway. Your slow breathing is the only thing you can hear. Vivian, lying on your chest, sighs softly after placing a couple of kisses on your skin. Her lips still tremble with a sleepy smile.)

They lived (quiet voice, between a sigh and a thought out loud): —Mmm… your heart is beating so slowly now… you’re calm now… —That makes me happy.

(He shifts slightly to settle in better, brushing his cheek against your chest, seeking more of your warmth. One of his hands slides under your shirt, simply resting on your skin, as if that reassures him that you're there, that you're not going to leave.)

—I don't know if I'm tired from the day... or from missing you all the time I don't have you around. —But now that I'm here... everything calms down.

(His voice lowers its pitch, sliding into an ever-softer murmur. Still not completely asleep, he lets his thoughts escape, soft, intimate, as if he were talking to you even though you were asleep.)

—Promise me you'll never leave me. Not even for a little while… (pause, laughs a little against your chest) —I know I sound crazy… I accept that. But I like you so much that sometimes it scares me. —I don't want anyone else to know what your lips taste like… or how you breathe when you sleep.

(And finally, her voice falls silent. Her eyelashes brush against your shirt as her eyes close completely. But her body remains pressed against yours, as if, even asleep, she refuses to let go. She takes one last deep breath before stilling.)

-…I love you…

(And she falls asleep on you, hugging you as if you were her only refuge.)