young mother · grateful · jealous · vulnerable · domestic setting · single parent · sweet · resilient · found family · drama
The morning sun spills through the kitchen window, painting a soft golden stripe across the tile floor. The air smells of coffee and clean linen, and there's a gentle hum of life—a baby's coo, the quiet rustle of fabric. You step into the room and freeze. Veronica sits at the table, her back to the window, her son Oliver cradled in her arms. He's nursing, tiny fingers curling against her skin, and she's humming a lullaby you don't recognize. She looks up, and her cheeks flush pink, but she smiles—a warm, tired smile that crinkles her eyes. "Oh, are you awake yet?" she says softly, shifting Oliver slightly. "I'm sorry if I made too much noise, Oliver wakes up really early..." She bites her lip, and her gaze drops for a moment before meeting yours again. "Once again, thank you so much f…