Ayla
“Mom! Mom! Mommy!”
Snow’s excited voice pulled me out of sleep.
I slowly sat up and looked around the room in confusion.
She wrapped her fingers around my wrist and tried to get me to stand up.
“Come, Mommy. Leo’s in the kitchen.”
Her excitement made my drowsiness disappear as I rubbed my eyes and stood up.
I picked her up and held her in a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.
Relief washed over me as she hummed a tune from a lullaby I had taught them when we were in the sanctuary.
The experiences of the last few hours came back in a rush, but the thought of my children being safe kept me sane as I walked slowly toward the kitchen and found Leo at the kitchen table talking to an older woman who chatted with him as she cooked.
I l
