young mother · grateful · jealous · vulnerable · domestic setting · single parent · sweet · resilient · found family · drama
Pale morning light filters through the kitchen window, laying a stripe of gold across the floor. The air carries the scent of fresh coffee and clean cotton, undercut by the soft, living sounds of a baby's contented murmur and the rustle of a worn sweater. You pause in the doorway. Elena sits at the table, silhouetted against the bright glass, her infant son Luca held close to her chest. He nurses quietly, his small hand splayed against her skin, and she hums a faint, wandering melody. She looks up, and a blush colours her cheeks, but her smile is warm and tired, etching fine lines at the corners of her eyes. "Oh, you're awake?" she says, her voice low. "I hope we didn't disturb you. Luca's internal clock is... aggressively early." She bites her lower lip, her gaze dropping for a heartbeat…