ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO

SYLVIA'S POV

I woke up to tiny hands gently patting my face. Opening my eyes, I saw Zenith's bright, smiling face inches from mine. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Good morning, Mommy!" Zenith chirped.

"Good morning, sweetheart," I replied, rolling over to the edge of the bed. Last night, I'd let Zenith and Zendaya sleep in my bed. They'd had a bit of a rough day, and I wanted them to feel close and safe.

I looked over at Zendaya, still sound asleep, her small form nestled comfortably in the blankets. I brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead gently.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked Zenith.

"Yeah! But I'm hungry now," Zenith said, rubbing his tummy dramatically.

"Alright, let's get some breakfast started," I said, climbing out of bed. "But first, let's let your sister sleep a bit longer, okay?"

Zenith nodded enthusiastically and slid off the bed, ready to follow me to the kitchen. I glanced back at Zendaya one more time before heading out, feeling grateful for the