Little fighter.

Her small cries wake me up. I rub at my eyes, my sleepy state slowly disappearing. I let out a small groan, pulling the duvet cover off me and standing up. Beside me in bed, Jake is sleeping soundly, his dark hair ruffled messily across the pillow. Shadows cover the skin under his eyes from tending to Ruby throughout the night. I lean over and press a gentle kiss on his forehead, leaving him to catch up on his sleep.

When your life is usually full of lies, deceit and chaos, the simplicity of a normal family life is bliss. I walk over to my nightstand, turning off the baby monitor before heading for Ruby's nursery. It's early in the morning, the sky is murky and grey signalling the start of a gloomy day. The house is completely silent beside from the soft cries coming from Ruby's nursery. It's right next door to our bedroom so she isn't far. I push back the door and smile as I watch her lie in her crib, her little arms flailing around.