"Mummy!" 

Marissa quickly cleaned her face with her bedsheet as she heard the voice of her child.

She turned over to give him a faint smile "Yes, my darling, you are up already? It is the holiday period, you know. You can sleep for as long as you want. That will soon be over!"

"Yes, I know, mummy; I just wasn't feeling sleepy anymore, and I wanted to see how you're doing this morning," Emma said, and Marissa felt her breath catch in her throat.

"What have I done to deserve this sweet, considerate kid?" She wondered, thinking of how Emma had been such a blessing to her since he...