Morning Light
The room was still dark when Daisy stirred, a faint streak of early morning light creeping in from the edges of the curtains. Her mother and brother were both asleep—Lucy's soft breathing a gentle rhythm, and Ken sprawled across the bed, a tangle of blankets. Daisy smiled faintly, watching them for a moment, the warmth of their presence in the house still feeling new.
She slid quietly out of bed, careful not to disturb them, and padded barefoot toward the balcony doors. The floor beneath her feet was cool, the air outside still crisp with the remnants of night. With a gentle push, she opened the door, the hinges creaking softly, and stepped into the early morning air.
The world outside was still wrapped in a hush of silence, with only the soft rustling of leaves in the light breeze. Daisy leaned on the railing, taking a deep breath, feeling the coolness of dawn on her skin. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, the sky painted in soft shades of pink and lavender. The world seemed to pause with her, the quiet of nature almost surreal, like a secret only she could hear.
She wasn't thinking about anything. Not about the past, not about Mr. Alex, not about the weight she carried inside her. For this brief moment, there was only the beauty of the sunrise and the peace of the world unfolding. She closed her eyes, letting the wind tousle her hair, letting the moment last as long as it would.
The faint sound of movement behind her broke the stillness. Daisy turned, expecting to see Lucy coming to join her, but instead, it was Ken, his face sleep-rumpled and eyes still heavy with sleep. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, his messy hair sticking out in all directions as he shuffled toward her.
"Hey, you're up early," Daisy said softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
Ken reached her and, without a word, wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her into a tight hug. Daisy chuckled, returning the hug with a gentle squeeze.
"Yep I have to ," Ken mumbled, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her shoulder. "I'm always up early. Gotta get ready for school."
Daisy raised an eyebrow as she pulled back slightly, giving him a curious look. "School already? It's barely dawn."
Ken yawned again, stretching his arms. "Yeah. Gotta be ready, right? What about you, sis? Why are you up so early?"
Daisy glanced back at the horizon, watching as the sun's first rays spread across the sky. "I came out to watch the sunrise," she said simply, her eyes softening as she looked at the sky. "I missed this. Just… the quiet of it."
Ken looked at her for a moment, his expression softening too. "You always did like that stuff, huh?" He gave her a teasing grin before turning away. "Well, I'm gonna go get dressed. Don't want to keep mom waiting. See you downstairs."
"Yeah, see you," Daisy said quietly, watching him leave.
She stayed for a few more moments, feeling the cool air and listening to the distant sounds of birds waking up. The world was beginning to stir, the early morning calm shifting into something livelier, but for a few more minutes, Daisy held onto the stillness, like a secret she wasn't ready to let go of.
Eventually, she turned and slipped back into the room, closing the door gently behind her so as not to disturb Lucy. She moved quietly through the room, pulling on some comfortable clothes and making her way downstairs. The house was still, except for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the clink of her feet on the floor.
She worked quickly in the kitchen, pulling ingredients from the fridge and cabinets. Eggs, bread, butter, a bit of cheese—nothing too fancy, but enough to make a simple breakfast. The smell of cooking soon filled the air, a reminder of home.
She moved with ease, the familiar rhythm of preparing breakfast grounding her.
Not long after, she heard the soft footsteps of Lucy coming down the stairs. Daisy glanced up from the frying pan, her mother's familiar figure emerging into the kitchen. Lucy smiled as she entered, rubbing her eyes and stretching with a sleepy yawn.
"Good morning," she said, her voice still warm from sleep. "What's this? A surprise breakfast?"
Daisy returned the smile, her heart warming at the sight of her mother's easy expression. "Thought I'd get a head start. You've been so good to me, Mom. Figured I'd give you something back."
Lucy laughed softly, walking over to give her a quick hug before moving to the counter. "Well, aren't you a sweetheart. I'm glad you're back, Daisy. It feels… right, having you here."
Daisy felt a pang in her chest at the simplicity of the words, a reminder of all the years she'd been gone. But she didn't let it show. Instead, she just smiled and turned back to the stove, flipping the eggs.
Lucy busied herself with setting the table, humming a tune as she worked. The sunlight, now fully spilling into the room, cast warm golden light on everything, from the countertop to the little plants by the window.
"Ken still asleep?" Lucy asked, glancing up.
Daisy nodded. "No, he's getting ready for school. He's always up early."
Lucy chuckled softly. "That boy never sleeps in. Takes after his father."
Daisy smiled faintly at the mention of their father, but the warmth of the moment, the normalcy of it all, was enough to keep her grounded. It was good to be here, to be part of this again, even if it was only for a little while.
The soft click of footsteps from the hallway signaled Ken's return, dressed and ready for the day. He walked into the kitchen, still a little groggy, but his grin was wide as he came to the table.
"Smells good," he said, flopping down into his seat.
Daisy turned to him, offering a plate of food. "Here you go, breakfast is served."
Ken grinned and dug in, making an exaggerated sound of appreciation as he took a bite. "Mmm, this is way better than cafeteria food."
Daisy laughed, sitting down beside him. They ate in companionable silence for a few moments, the soft clatter of utensils and the sounds of morning filling the air.
"Thanks for doing this, Daisy," Lucy said quietly, her voice full of warmth. "I've really missed having you here."
Daisy's heart tightened just a little, but she kept her smile steady. "I've missed it too, Mom."
The sun continued to rise, casting light over everything, filling the house with a new sense of possibility. It was a new day, and for the first time in a long while, Daisy felt like she could finally breathe.