Grace sat beside her children’s beds, her voice soft and soothing as she read aloud from their favorite bedtime story. Roy and Nancy lay under the covers, snuggling into their pillows, their eyes growing heavier with each word she spoke.
These were the moments Grace treasured the most—quiet, peaceful moments where everything felt right. The world outside might be chaotic, but here, in this dimly lit room, it was calm.
As she finished the last sentence, Grace glanced over to see both children had drifted off to sleep.
She smiled to herself, the corners of her mouth lifting gently. Carefully, she closed the book, taking care not to make a sound that could disturb them.
She leaned over, placing a tender kiss on Roy’s forehead, then on Nancy’s, pausing for a moment to watch their soft breathing.
Before leaving, she cracked the door just slightly, letting a small sliver of light from the hallway shine through—enough to comfort Roy, who was always a bit scared of the dark.
Grace stepped out of the room, her heart still filled with the sweetness of the evening ritual. But as she walked into the kitchen, she immediately noticed something was wrong.