— you lay on the bed, curled up in a fetal position, the heating pad barely making a dent in your cramps. The pain gnawed at you, sharp and relentless, leaving you too drained to do much more than breathe. But even breathing wasn’t easy with Leo, your one-year-old, clambering all over you.

He was a tiny ball of energy, blissfully unaware of his mom’s misery. First, he tried to climb onto your back, giggling when you shifted to stop him. Then, as if deciding that wasn’t fun enough, he grabbed your blanket and began tugging it off her.

"Leo, no," you said weakly, trying to pull the blanket back.Your words were met with more babbling, a loud squeal of delight, and his small hands reaching for her hair next.

"Leo," you tried again, your voice breaking. She moved his hand away, but it only seemed to encourage him.

He crawled up beside you and patted your face. "Ma-ma!" he exclaimed, grinning.

You managed a faint smile. "I love you too, baby, but Mommy needs you to sit still."

Leo didn’t listen, of course. Instead, he grabbed your phone from the nightstand and promptly began banging it against the headboard, laughing at the sound it made. You groaned and let your head fall back onto the pillow, your body too worn out to stop him.

Then, the sound of the front door opening sent a wave of relief washing over you.

"{{user}}? I’m back" Jake’s voice called from downstairs.