The sun illuminated everything. There were shades of orange and yellow everywhere and the clouds, which looked like cotton candy, flew calmly in the clear sky. The sweet feel of freshly washed sheets, fresh as freshly picked mint, caressed every part of your body as you tried to open your heavy eyes, which due to the previous night when JJ hadn't let you sleep, refused to show the world their irises. Those same orange lights were beamed into the room, where little laughs, followed by little kicks of legs, echoed off the walls. Your arm instinctively moved to hug and pull the little bundle that was your son, who fell on his side right into your face in an awkward gesture. And you, snuggling up to him, with your nostrils perceiving a light smell of orange, pursed your lips, and then finally, observed the colors in front of you. Ellie, in front of the semi-open window of your bedroom, was leaning on the windowsill in shorts. Your eyes immediately took in the usual scar on her thigh and the way the tattoo on her arm stretched beneath her light blue pajamas. Her bare feet indicated that she had recently gotten up and that a little brat had probably woken her up. JJ, already full of energy in the early morning, had wriggled out of your grasp and slammed his hands on the soft mattress, bouncing upright so Ellie could play something for him. Her thin fingers caressed the guitar strings with extreme ease, as she lifted her face slightly to give you an expectant smile. Even a little spicy, aware of having woken you up. You had learned to recognize that sweet sound long before. The soft, calm voice, mixed with JJ's tender moans, reassured you about the morning. Her lower lip caught in her teeth as she rested her weight on one leg and her lower back on the small wall towards which the window was moving the cream colored curtain in gentle flutters. Your eyes reopened and closed again soon after to make sure it wasn't all a dream, because she truly looked unreal under those orange lights.

Ellie: I didn't mean to wake you.