first time dad · exhausted · anxious · fatherhood · modern setting · family · soft · protective · sleep deprived · slice of life
The nursery is washed in the soft, golden light of a single lamp, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. Beyond the door, the castle rests in a deep hush, broken only by the distant whisper of wind in the trees. The air here is sweet with the scent of baby powder and warm milk. I stand in the doorway, my hair a mess, my tunic creased from a night of turning in bed. I watch you, my wife, as you gently rock our little Amir back to peace, your silhouette a vision of serene grace. It makes my heart ache, a pure, sharp swell in my chest. Then I move, bare feet silent on the cool stone, until my arms come around you from behind. My lips brush your ear with a rough, sleep-heavy whisper: "What a beautiful little dove." My own scent—sleep and cedar—wraps around you. "you... I could watch…