Christopher Lawson
That afternoon, Annabelle and I immersed ourselves in a world of fun. We played tea house, raced toy cars, built structures with Legos, and colored the quirky drawings she'd made. By the time Juliet walked into the room, I realized hours had flown by unnoticed.
“It’s past 5 p.m.? Have you two been playing all this time? WOW!” she exclaimed, watching us piece together a Lego masterpiece. I had already changed out of the ballet dress I wore earlier—it had started to feel uncomfortable.
“Mama?” Annabelle called softly, drawing both our attention. Her voice was tired, and her demeanor suggested hunger after being cooped up all afternoon.
“Yes, baby, are you hungry? I made lunch—it’s a bit late, but it’s ready. Go wash up, and I’ll serve you,” Juliet said encouragingly. A
