odds

Brian winces as the front door swings open with a creak, announcing his late arrival to all inhabitants of the house. He’s careful to close the door a lot more quietly, along with removing both his shoes and his coat as to not create anymore unwanted noise.

As he makes his way though the dark, silent corridor, Brian can’t stop the deep sigh that spills from his lips: to say he was exhausted, would be an understatement. Work had basically kept him on his feet all day long with no breaks in between. And there’s also the fact he’s returning home at such a late hour.

Through the pitch black, he navigates to where he knows his bedroom remains, surprise emerging when he notices a stream of light filing from underneath the door. He carefully enters the room, peeking his head around the corner, only for a soft smile to immediately overtake his face.

There you were, his beautiful wife, gently cuddling with his six-month old daughter on the sheet-less and pillow-less bed. Usually, after days of stress, he’d go to bed feeling tense—but the sight of you protectively cradling their daughter while deep in slumber has his heart completely melting.

Brian quickly changes into his nightly attire, making sure to switch off the light before sliding onto the mattress on the other side of the sleeping baby. He presses a light peck to his daughter’s forehead, then another to your cheek. It’s not long until sleep overtakes his own exhausted mind.