Sirius woke slowly, like surfacing from a deep, shallow lake.
Hearing came first; it was quiet, but someone nearby was breathing
Sensation next; he felt terrible, wrung out and achy like he'd been sick for weeks, and he had a pounding headache right between his eyes, but something was... different. He felt lighter, like a weight he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying had suddenly been removed. He felt like he could finally breathe.
He opened his eyes, cringing against even the dim lighting, then turned his head to look for Remus. There had never been a question about whether or not he would be there.
"Moony?" His voice sounded raw, but the despair that had been tinging it was gone.