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Suddenly, the alarm rang, and my eyes snapped open. I hadn’t been asleep; I remembered every moment of tossing and turning over the past few hours. With a weary body, I stood up, unable to find rest throughout the entire night.

“Aoife, you didn’t sleep again last night, did you?” Jing emerged from her room with concern etched across her face.

I mustered a smile with my eyes heavy from fatigue and traces of tears from the restless night.

Jing knew I needed a comforting embrace and wrapped her arms around me, offering solace, before Alex joined in.

“Mommy, I need a hug, too!” he exclaimed, bounding towards us, and jumping into the embrace.

Though the night had been filled with exhaustion and darkness, the sun began to rise. We gathered ourselves, preparing for the day ahead, and getting ready for work and school.

***

~Xander~

A lot has changed about her. She isn’t the same innocent girl who used to run into my arms whenever I called her. She appears more mature and composed now. I wonde