Roman shifted beneath the duvet, his eyes fluttering open as his sleep broke. The moment he realized Eilika was sleeping right there beside him, he bolted upright, his drowsiness vanishing instantly.
"Mama is back!" A wide, radiant smile transformed his face as he lunged forward to hug her. He buried his tiny face against her chest, the sudden warmth of her presence grounding him after a night of nightmares.
Eilika's eyes filled with tears again as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, pulling him close. "A very happy birthday, Roman," she whispered, pressing a long, tender kiss to his forehead.
Roman pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes bright with wonder. "Mama, you woke up!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," she said softly, propping herself up on her elbows to face him properly. "I heard you were crying yesterday." Her hands moved to cup his tiny, warm cheeks, her thumb tracing his skin with infinite tenderness. "Did Mama hurt your heart?"
