Lucas
The first sound to pierce through my deep sleep wasn't my alarm, but a sound far sweeter and more insistent. It was Lily who was outside my door, even through the heavy door, her voice carried a vibrant energy, and a smile touched my lips before I was even fully conscious.
I swung my legs out of bed, the morning light was still pale, filtering weakly through the blinds, but Lily's presence was a sunbeam all its own. I pulled the door open and there she was in her unicorn pajamas, her hair wildly around her head.
"Daddy!" she squealed, her face splitting into a grin that showed the gap where a tooth had recently been.
I didn't need a second invitation. I bent down scooping her into my arms. She was getting bigger and heavier, but she still felt so small, so precious. I lifted her
