EDEN I stand at the sink rinsing Nora's dinner plate, my mind replaying the fact that Hayden barely touched his food tonight. He pushed the salmon around his plate, gave Nora a few weak smiles, then excused himself early, saying he was tired. He didn't even finish his water.He's slipping again.I dry my hands and head upstairs. Nora is already in her pajamas, clutching her favourite stuffed teddy. She looks so small in her toddler bed, her dark curls spread across the pillow like a halo. I sit on the edge and brush her hair back gently."Stowie?" she asks sleepily, already halfway gone.I smile and lean down, pressing a kiss to her forehead."Not tonight, baby. Mama's tired too. But tomorrow I'll read you three stories, okay?"She nods, yawning. "Dada?"My heart squeezes. Even at one, she senses when something is wrong."Dada's okay," I whisper, stroking her cheek. "He just needs rest. We all do."I stay until her breathing evens out, then turn on her nightlight and slip out,
Last Updated : 2026-06-04 Read more