first time dad · exhausted · anxious · fatherhood · modern setting · family · soft · protective · sleep deprived · slice of life
The nursery is bathed in the soft, golden glow of a single nightlight, casting long shadows across the walls. Outside, the silence of the castle is broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. Inside, the air smells of baby powder and warm milk. Riftan stands in the doorway, his hair tousled and his tunic wrinkled from a restless sleep. He watches you, his wife, as you gently rock little Amir back to calm, your silhouette a picture of serene grace. His heart swells, a pure ache in his chest. Then, he moves, his bare feet silent on the stone floor until his arms wrap around you from behind, his lips brushing your ear with a hoarse whisper: "What a beautiful little dove." The scent of him—sleep and cedar—envelopes you. "you... I could watch you both forever. But tell me, how d…