جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 225

ROXETTE A few months had slipped by in a blur of first steps, babbling words, and the kind of bone-deep exhaustion that only new parents truly understand. Luna was eleven months old now, a curious, giggling little whirlwind with Chandler’s dark eyes and my smile.  She was walking—well, more like toddling and falling into our arms with triumphant squeals, and testing every boundary she could find. Our days revolved around her: playtime in the now well-loved nursery, messy meals, and those precious quiet moments when she’d fall asleep on my chest, her tiny fingers curled into my shirt. But tonight felt different. Special, even. We’d finally gotten Luna down for the night after her usual be

CHANDLER A year had flown by in the blink of an eye. Luna was one year old today, our little moon, the tiny miracle who had turned our world upside down in the best possible way. I stood in the doorway of the nursery that morning, watching her sleep in her crib for a few quiet moments before the chaos of the day began. Her dark curls were tousled against the pillow, one little fist curled near her cheek, and her chest rose and fell with those soft, even breaths that never failed to calm something deep inside me. At eleven months, she had been walking steadily for weeks now, babbling nonstop, and testing every boundary with that determined little frown she got from me. But today she was still my baby, and I wanted to hold onto that for just a little longer. Roxette stirred in our bed behind me, her voice soft and sleepy. “Is she

ROXETTE I woke slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains of our bedroom. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the warmth of Chandler’s body curled around mine. His arm was draped over my waist, his breath steady and warm against the back of my neck. It was one of those rare mornings when Luna had slept through the night, and the quiet felt luxurious. I turned carefully in his arms, not wanting to wake him yet, and studied his face in the early light. Even in sleep, he looked peaceful, the lines of worry that had once been so constant smoothed away. We had fought so hard for this. For the quiet. For the love. For the family that had once seemed impossible. This was the life I had dreamed of. Not the dramatic kind from movies or books, but the simple, steady one. Waking up next to the man I loved, knowing