*Briella*

The weight of my eyelids felt like anchors as I peeled myself from the cocoon of sweat-dampened sheets. My limbs protested, a symphony of aches playing through each muscle, but the soft sighs from the crib called loudly to me.

With a resolve that seemed to drain the last reserves of my strength, I shuffled across the room, the cool wooden floor soothing the fire in my soles. For a moment, I contemplated crawling to the crib but fought through it until I looked ...