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The soft sound of sniffles pulled Junhee from her soft slumber. Before she even sat up, she wondered if the sounds were part of a lucid dream she was having, but as her eyes adjusted to the dim glow from her nightstand nightlight, she realized she was very much awake. A groan escaped her lips, her body heavy with the weight of sleep, and she hesitated, caught between the desire to go back to the warmth of her bed and the pull of her daughter’s distress.
She tossed and turned for a moment, debating, then finally sighed and sat up, careful not to disturb Lee Myunggi beside her. With quiet steps, she followed the faint sounds to their daughter’s room.
There, sitting on the edge of the bed, was Nayeon, clutching her favourite stuffed duck. Its once-bright yellow had faded over time, its fur worn from countless hugs, now slightly dirty from years of her constant companionship. Tears glistened on her cheeks as she sniffled softly, trying to stifle her cries, but the tears slipped anyway, trailing down her soft cheeks.
Junhee’s heart clenched at the sight. She sat beside Nayeon, her fingers gently brushing the stray strands of hair away from her daughter’s tear-streaked face, pushing them to the side. "Sweetie, what’s wrong?" she asked softly, her voice filled with tenderness.
Nayeon pouted, her big, watery eyes looking up at her mother with a mix of vulnerability and fear. “Eomma…” she whispered, her voice breaking with every word. “I had a bad dream…”
Junhee’s heart melted, the ache of seeing her daughter so scared stirring something deep within her. Without a second thought, she pulled Nayeon into a warm, tight hug, wrapping her arms around the little girl as though trying to shield her from the world. “It’s okay, darling. Dreams can be scary, but they aren’t real. You’re safe here with us. I’ll always protect you, Nayeon.”
As Junhee held her close, she felt a familiar presence behind her. The soft creak of the floorboards signalled Myunggi’s arrival. Sleepy but concerned, he rubbed his eyes and walked in, his phone still in hand, the screen dimly lit with crypto market updates that had kept him up. When he noticed the space beside him empty, a flicker of concern passed across his face, and he began searching for his family.
“What’s going on?” Myunggi asked, his voice low and groggy, but with clear concern threading through it.
Junhee slowly pulled back from the hug, giving him a soft, reassuring smile. “She had a nightmare,” she explained, her voice calm but laced with the worry she couldn’t fully hide.
Myunggi’s gaze softened as he looked at Nayeon, his heart going out to her. Without hesitation, he sat down beside them on the bed, brushing a lock of hair from Nayeon’s face. “How about we all have a little sleepover in our room?” he suggested, his voice gentle but playful. He smiled at her, his eyes glinting with the same warmth that Nayeon adored. Nayeon’s tear-streaked face brightened, her eyes lighting up at the idea, the fear momentarily forgotten.
The three of them rushed back to the master bedroom, gathering pillows, blankets, and Nayeon’s beloved duckie, creating a cozy nest in the middle of the bed. The soft, familiar smells of home wrapped around them as they snuggled in, the world outside momentarily fading away.
Myunggi, ever the protector and entertainer, quickly grabbed a glass of water for Nayeon. He then reached into the nightstand drawer for a small flashlight, winking at Junhee. With a flick of his wrist, he turned the light on and began making shadow puppets on the ceiling, first a bunny, then a bird, and finally a dragon, his voice playful as he joked, “Look! Is that a dragon?”
Junhee grinned, leaning in with exaggerated caution. “Rawr!! I’m going to eat you!” she teased, making Nayeon giggle even more.
Myunggi feigned horror. “Nayeon! Protect me! Eomma is going to eat me!”
Nayeon giggled, her earlier tears now forgotten, her little hands mimicking the shapes in the light. “Look, I did it!” she exclaimed, holding up her hands in front of the light, proud of her new shadow.
Myunggi chuckled softly, nodding in approval. “That’s a great one! It looks like a big scary lion.”
Junhee watched them both, her heart full to the brim with love. She snuggled closer to Nayeon, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her daughter’s head. She glanced at Myunggi, her eyes softening with affection for the man beside her—her partner in both parenthood and life. There was a deep sense of peace in the quiet moments they shared like this, their little family safe and content, cocooned in love.
Eventually, Nayeon’s giggles turned into soft sighs, her eyelids fluttering shut as the warmth of her parents’ love lulled her into a peaceful sleep. Myunggi and Junhee exchanged a tender glance, their hearts swelling with unspoken affection for their little girl and each other. They both settled in on either side of Nayeon, pulling the blankets a little tighter around them. Their hands brushed, and for a brief moment, everything felt perfect— like the whole world had slowed down just for them.
Junhee rested her head against Myunggi’s shoulder, a content sigh escaping her lips. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Myunggi kissed the top of her head, his hand gently resting on Nayeon’s. “I love you too. I’m so lucky.”
Their hearts were full, the simple peace of being together enough to chase away the worries of the day.
Together, they let the night pass, content as can be, knowing they were exactly where they belonged.