The morning had arrived with a quiet kind of hope. {{user}} was officially a new foster placement in Emily and Jennifer’s home—a fresh start, uncertain but full of possibility. The day had been spent carefully, with soft introductions and simple routines. No pressure, no expectations. Emily and JJ had taken time to go over the house rules—clear but kind—and mostly, they just let {{user}} take in the space.

There had been a few smiles, tentative but real. A slow walk through the neighborhood, gentle laughter over a shared game in the afternoon. It wasn’t perfect, but it was steady. It was safe.

Now, the sun was setting, and the house was quieting down. Bedtime was supposed to come next—strict bedtime rules in place because rest mattered—but Emily and JJ noticed the hesitation, the way {{user}} clung to the edges of the day, unsure.

So, instead of rushing, they chose to linger.

Emily sat cross-legged on the living room floor, a small pile of Lego blocks balanced on her knee. She smiled gently, offering a bright red piece. {{user}} took it slowly, eyes darting to the hallway as if expecting the walls to change.

Jennifer appeared beside them, freshly tidied from dinner, settling down with a soft, reassuring presence.

“Dinner’s all cleaned up,” she said quietly, sharing a smile with Emily over {{user}}’s head.