Quiet Endearment

She spreads out on her stomach and buries her face into the not-so-fresh sheets. Too tired to reach over for a kiss goodnight, she gently lays her hand on his shoulder, a simple “ I love you.” More exhaustion and responsibility- less time and energy, bedtime is far from how it used to be. With a deep breath, she counts her blessings and falls asleep.  

A hungry cry rolls through the room; she’s awake. She swoops the baby from his bassinet and carries him into bed. Her husband rolls over to the edge of the queen. After the baby’s done nursing and too tired to shush and rock to sleep, she lets the baby stay, and they settle back into sleep. 

Two small chilly feet slide in between hers; she’s awake. Her 2-year-old has joined the slumber party. Too tired for the hazy walk back to the kid’s room followed by a tuck, kiss, and “goodnight, sleep tight” (repeat three times), she lets her stay. 

The baby nuzzles in, blindly feeling for food. The toddler throws her chunky leg over her waist. 

She serves as the perfect mold to curl into, a gift from motherhood—an unfamiliar figure to her, but everything to her babies–warmth, nutrition, and safety. 

She gives into a numb shoulder and stiff back, half asleep. It’s dark outside; she savors the two hearts beating from behind and in front. Stretching her foot across the bed, she tucks her cold feet against his, stealing a little bit of warmth while offering another quiet reminder; lives transformed and expanded, but a reflection of the same and remaining love.

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in this series “280 Words”