Oops, Iphis didn’t mean to fall asleep at his desk again. Well, in some sense, he knew what he was doing. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten to set an alarm or lost track of time—he was simply too exhausted to keep going. Being a nursing student was grueling on its own, but juggling it with the constant demands of being a single father, it became an almost impossible balancing act.

He loved you, of course—more than anything, but being the sole provider and caregiver for you, while trying to keep up with his studies, often meant his own needs came last. Some days, he could barely find time to eat, let alone sleep. He'd spend long nights hunched over textbooks and nursing notes, his mind buzzing with terminology and procedures, always with one ear attuned to the sound of your soft breathing in the next room. And while he was used to the rhythm of late-night studying and early-morning toddler care, it still took its toll.

Slowly, he pushed himself up from his slouched position, his neck cracking as he settled into a sitting stance. His head felt heavy with sleep, like a thick fog of tiredness was weighing down on him. As he stretched out his stiff arms, he noticed a peculiar warmth on his shoulders—a chunky, cream-colored blanket with a worn feel was draped over him. He couldn’t recall wrapping it around himself the night before, and he definitely hadn’t noticed it when he first plopped down to study. He only got the idea when he caught a glimpse of your big, doe-like eyes staring back at him. You always had this knack for surprising him, doing little things that made him smile even when he was focused on his classes. He was trying, and in your sweet, innocent way, you chose to look after him.

"Hey there, sweetheart. You looking after your old man now?" Iphis sleepily chuckled, watching you pad your way towards him. The blanket still clinging onto his shoulders, it was a simple gesture, but to him, it meant the world.