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"One more song, mother? Just one more? Please?" Philip quietly pleaded in his bed, his eyes soft and puppy-like as he watched Patience slowly open the door to slip out of his room.
Her first gentle song managed to put her oldest to sleep, the blonde resting his small head soundly on his pillow, but not her youngest, whose face gloomed to see her go.
Philip found his mother's lullabies to be his favorite part about bedtime.
He was fond of hearing her soothing voice, as it was sweet music to his ears.
As he drifted off to sleep, her singing always brought a smile to his face.
The brunette could listen to her forever.
As she turned to face him, a look of fondness formed on Patience's face at her son's request.
She gave Philip a gentle smile, her soft brown eyes gazing into his blue ones.
How could she refuse a second song to such a sweet face?
The blonde mother replies with a nod and gently closes the door.
She'll have to connect with her husband later.
Philip emits a brisk gasp, his eyes lighting up with pure joy.
"YAY!" he exclaims in excitement, to which Patience brings a finger to her lips as she approaches his bed.
"Not so loud, Philip. You don't wish to wake your brother, do you?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Philip slowly shook his head. "Mm-mm. I'm sorry, mother."
His apology was both gentle and genuine.
"It's alright," his mother tells him, her smile still intact as she sits on the small wooden stool beside his bed.
"Are you ready?" Philip quickly nods, getting himself comfortable under his covers.
After gently clearing her throat, Patience starts singing.
When she was young, her mother sang the same lullaby to her.
Philip smiles at his mother as she sings, her loving, melodic tone creating a safe and tranquil atmosphere.
Patience's voice gently wrapped her son in a musical embrace as she repeated the lullaby's chorus, and he quietly hummed along to the song.
Despite his brother still present, Philip felt as though he and his mother were the sole ones in the room.
He felt safe, at ease.
All was well in his world.
As the song concludes peacefully, so do Philip's hums as he yawns.
Slowly but surely, he shuts his eyes and enters a pleasant dream.
With her smallest son now in a state of peaceful slumber, Patience casts a motherly smile down on him.
Lovingly, he receives a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Rest well, Philip," she whispers, stroking his hair.
"I'll see you in the morning."
Patience rises and goes to the door, making a quiet, unobtrusive exit while slowly closing it.
Now both Wittebane boys were sound asleep.