Vanessa walked down the hallway, her hand lightly brushing against the wall as she made her way to Ethan and Emma’s room. The house was calm, with only the faint hum of the air conditioner breaking the silence.
Stopping at their door, she pushed it open carefully, making sure not to make much noise. The soft morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, lighting up the room in a warm glow. Ethan was already sitting up in bed, his hair messy, while Emma was still asleep, clutching her stuffed bunny close.
“Morning, Mommy,” Ethan mumbled, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Vanessa whispered as she stepped inside. She reached over to smooth his hair down, her fingers running gently through the tangles. “Did you sleep okay?”
He nodded with another yawn. “Yeah. Is i
