The morning light filtered through the curtains, a gentle nudge into wakefulness.
Lily’s soft cries pulled me from sleep, her needs immediate and grounding.
I went through the motions, comforting her, changing her, the routine a balm against the chaos in my mind.
Emma joined us, her hair tousled and eyes still heavy with sleep.
“Good morning,” I greeted her, my voice gentle.
She smiled, a small, tentative curve of her lips.
Jack was already up, preparing breakfast with a practiced efficiency.
“Pancakes today,” he announced, his tone bright.
Emma’s eyes lit up, her excitement genuine.
“Yay!”
