3rd POVFinally, the day was over. That was Mannie’s only thought as the last of the children drifted off to sleep.Their soft breathing filled the room, and for the first time that night, silence settled like a warm blanket. She sat there for a while, watching their tiny faces in the dim light.Peace. Real peace.It felt so fragile that she didn’t even want to move, afraid the quiet would break if she did.Her eyelids felt heavy. She leaned back slightly, her arm brushing against one of the children. Nate shifted in his sleep, clutching her shirt with a small hand.Mannie smiled faintly and smoothed his hair.“Good night, my lovelies,” she whispered.When she was sure all of them were deeply asleep, she rose carefully, one step at a time, her bare feet silent against the floor. She tucked the blanket around them, then reached for the light switch.Click.Darkness.Only the soft moonlight slipped through the curtain.She sighed softly. “Mum, please just go to sleep,” she prayed under
Last Updated : 2026-05-28 Read more