JASMINE
The first thing I felt when I woke up the next morning was weight but something small and bouncy landing on the mattress near my legs, then near my stomach, then somewhere close to my side as though a tiny storm had found its way into my bedroom.
I frowned sleepily and buried my face deeper into the pillow, still caught between sleep and waking, until a bright little voice cut through the haze.
"Aunt Jasmine, wake up." My eyes fluttered open.
For a second I could only blink at the small figure standing on the bed in front of me, and then all at once my sleep vanished.
"Jaden?"
He beamed at me immediately, all bright eyes and mischievous energy, his little body practically vibrating with excitement now that I was awake.
He looked adorable in a tiny sky-blue shirt with the sleeves folded neatly at the elbows, a pair of beige shorts that stopped at his knees, and little white sneakers that absolutely should not have been on my bed.
