Bedtime
Putting my girls to bed together is my favourite thing. Quite rare nowadays because there’s a 5 ½ year age gap and many complaints from the older one about wanting to stay up later…but sometimes I manage to persuade her and we all climb into her bed and read a few chapters of a book. Then the lights go out and their little heads find my shoulders and their hands find mine in the dark. They become little once again and it’s the most peaceful I feel anywhere in the world.
A warm orange glow,
Seeps through the open door.
Soft, rhythmical breaths float on the air.
Warm, rosy cheeks,
Peak out from the top of the duvet.
The room is decorated with glowing stars.
Peace,
Engulfs,
The,
Space.
Time has paused,
Allowing for reflection.
Thoughts of motherhood,
Of gratitude.
Holding on.
Squeezing,
Breathing in every piece,
Of the picture.
You lay with them a while.
Holding their little hands.
Feeling their bodies relax.
One,
Curled into a ball,
The other,
stretched out,
Like a star.
One,
Snoring softly.
The other,
Silent as a,
Night in,
The hills.
Each one,
Perfection.
You give them,
A,
Gentle kiss,
and whisper,
I love you.
The words,
Sit,
On their pillows,
Until,
Morning.
