Invisible String

28

Sometimes, moments like this felt like the calm center in the chaos of life—and I soaked it up, knowing how rare it was.

“Come on, we’re putting her in her own room so we can actually get some sleep,” I said gently to Travis, carrying Mira carefully toward her crib.

He nodded, rubbing his eyes but smiling. “Yeah, as much as I love having her close, we both need rest.”

I laid Mira down softly, her eyelids fluttering as she settled in. Lily peeked in from the doorway, waving a sleepy hand goodbye.

“Goodnight, baby,” I whispered, turning off the light.

As we closed the door, Travis and I exchanged a tired but relieved look. Finally, some quiet—for all of us.

We slipped quietly back into our room, careful not to wake Lily, who was already curled up in her own bed. Travis pulled me close, and I felt the warmth of him steady me after the busy day.

“Finally,” he murmured, brushing a stray hair from my face. “I was starting to forget what silence sounded like.”

I laughed softly, leaning into his touch. “Me too. It’s like a little slice of heaven.”

We crawled into bed, the softness of the sheets wrapping around us. I felt the steady rise and fall of Travis’s breathing next to me and let myself sink into the peacefulness of the moment.

“Tomorrow’s another day,” I whispered.

“Together,” he replied, and I smiled, already feeling ready for whatever came next.

The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains as I slowly woke from the nap. I blinked a few times, still feeling the warmth of the afternoon sleep settle in my body. Mira was resting peacefully in her crib, and the room was quiet except for the gentle hum of the air conditioner.

I stretched and looked over to see Travis still dozing beside me, his arm draped loosely across the bed. Lily was nowhere to be seen, probably still playing or exploring somewhere nearby.

I smiled to myself, feeling refreshed but also grateful for these rare moments of calm in the chaos of our lives. Quiet like this was a gift — and I intended to savor every second.

I quietly got up, careful not to wake Travis, and tiptoed toward the living room. Lily was sitting on the floor with a stack of picture books, completely absorbed in the colorful pages. She looked up when she heard me, her face lighting up.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I whispered, scooping her into a gentle hug. “Did you have a good nap?”

She nodded eagerly, then tugged at my hand. “Can we play outside now? The sun’s still out!”

I smiled, feeling that familiar mix of exhaustion and joy. “Alright, but first let’s get Mira up and ready. She might want to join us.”

As I carried Mira out of her room, I could feel the day unfolding ahead—simple, sweet moments with my family that made everything worth it.

By the time Travis got up, I’d already resigned myself to the fact that Lily was going to cover me in leaves—no use fighting her when she had that gleam in her eye. Mira was sitting nearby on the porch, her curious little gaze following every move, watching us with those big wide eyes. Lily gathered handfuls of crisp, colorful leaves and grinned mischievously at me before tossing them gently my way. I laughed, playing along, while Travis rubbed the sleep from his eyes and watched the leafy chaos unfold with an amused smile.
Travis shook his head, chuckling as he stood on the porch steps. “You’re definitely outnumbered,” he said, glancing at Lily with mock defeat.