Around one in the morning, Kathy was startled awake by the sound of one of her babies crying. The house was quiet except for the soft, plaintive wail echoing down the hallway. Kathy blinked sleep from her eyes, her body heavy with exhaustion, and gently slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her partner.
She padded softly across the cool floor, her footsteps muffled in the darkness. The nursery door was slightly ajar, and as she entered, she saw Kai in his crib, his tiny fists balled up and his face scrunched in distress. The nightlight cast a warm, gentle glow over the room, illuminating the soft pastel colors and the stuffed animals lined up on the shelf.
Kathy moved to the crib and leaned over, her heart aching at the sight of Kai’s tears. She scooped him up into her arms, cradlin
