When I wake up, the room is quiet in the heavy way that usually means I slept far longer than I intended to.
For a few seconds I just lie there without moving, still caught somewhere between asleep and awake, my body feeling sluggish and overheated under the blanket. Then the ache in my lower back settles back into place properly and I finally reach for my phone on the nightstand.
10:17 AM.
I stare at the screen for a moment.
No wonder the house is quiet.
Normally I'm awake before eight even when I sleep badly, but after yesterday my body apparently decided it was done listening to me. The gala alone would have been exhausting enough, but adding the conversation afterward on top of everything else feels like my brain kept working long after the rest of me shut down.
I rub at my face and sit up slowly.
The movement makes the baby shift faintly and I rest a hand against my stomach automatically, waiting for the discomfort to settle before getting out of bed.
