I woke up later than usual. My body needed to rest after the emotional night I had. Both Charlotte and Alice were already gone and from the alarm clock on my bedside, I saw that it was already nine-thirty in the morning. I got ready quickly and went down to the kitchen.

Valerie was there with her morning cup of coffee, studying the girls and eyeing what they ate for breakfast, like usual. I prepared my helping of plain, boring oatmeal and went to sit by ...