The next morning, Mara woke up to the soft sound of breathing on either side of her. Lily was curled up peacefully against her chest, and Sofia lay on the other side with one arm protectively draped over the little girl. For a moment, Mara just lay there, letting the warmth of their bodies chase away the lingering shadows of yesterday. She sighed softly, a mix of love and quiet ache filling her chest.
This is what family feels like, she thought. Real family.
Careful not to wake them, she slipped out of bed, went into the bathroom, and took a long shower. The hot water helped ease the tension in her shoulders, but it did nothing to quiet the storm of thoughts in her head. By the time she came out, dressed in simple comfortable clothes, both Lily and Sofia were awake.
“Good morning, my lo
