The babysitter

Hope

The thought had been lingering in Lucy's mind for days, maybe even weeks, though she hadn't dared to voice it out loud. Every time she sat quietly, sipping her coffee, or watched Emma play in the yard with Kojo, the idea would bubble up again, stronger than before. Joining the police academy. It was a dream she'd buried long ago, back when she thought her life would take a different path. But now, it was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

She hadn't mentioned it to Tim yet. Lucy wasn't sure how he would react, especially after everything that had happened recently. Would he think she was rushing into something? Or would he understand why this felt like the right time?

It wasn't as if she hadn't thought it through. She had weighed the pros and cons countless times, scribbled notes in a little notebook she kept hidden in the drawer by her bed. Still, the decision felt monumental, like stepping onto a tightrope without a safety net.

That morning, Lucy found herself sitting at the dining table, staring at the open laptop in front of her. The application form for the police academy was staring back, each blank field silently challenging her to make a choice.

Kojo padded over to her, his large head resting on her lap as if sensing her uncertainty. She scratched behind his ears absentmindedly, her gaze still fixed on the screen.

"Do you think I can do this, Kojo?" she asked softly.

The dog huffed, his tail wagging lazily as if to say, Of course, you can.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I'll take that as a yes."

Just then, Emma came running into the room, her hair slightly messy and her cheeks flushed from playing outside. She climbed into the chair beside Lucy, peeking at the laptop screen with curiosity.

"What's that?" Emma asked, tilting her head.

Lucy hesitated for a moment before answering. "It's an application for something I've been thinking about doing."

Emma's eyes lit up with interest. "What is it? Is it fun?"

Lucy chuckled. "It's... a little more serious than fun. I'm thinking about joining the police academy."

Emma's face scrunched up in concentration as she processed the information. "Does that mean you'd be a police officer like Daddy?"

"Sort of," Lucy said, turning to face her. "But it's a lot of hard work. It means I'd have to train a lot and study, and I'd be really busy for a while. But if I do it, I could help people and make sure they're safe."

Emma nodded slowly, her little hands resting on the table. "I think you'd be really good at it, Lucie. You're already really good at taking care of people."

Lucy felt her heart swell at Emma's words. If a five-year-old could believe in her, maybe she could start believing in herself too.

"Thanks, Em," Lucy said, pulling her into a hug. "That means a lot to me."

Just as she released Emma, she heard the front door open and close. Tim was home, his familiar footsteps echoing through the house. A mix of nerves and excitement bubbled in Lucy's chest as she realized she needed to tell him about her plans.

Tim walked into the room, his expression softening when he saw Lucy and Emma together. "What's going on in here?" he asked, placing his keys on the counter.

"Lucie's gonna be a police officer!" Emma announced proudly, her voice full of enthusiasm.

Tim froze for a moment, his eyebrows raising in surprise as his gaze flicked to Lucy. "Really?"

Lucy gave a small nod, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. I haven't made any decisions yet, but... I was looking at the application."

Tim pulled out a chair and sat down across from her, his expression unreadable. "That's a big step," he said after a moment.

"I know," Lucy replied. "But it feels like the right one. After everything that's happened, I realized how much I want to do something meaningful, something that can make a difference."

Tim nodded slowly, his eyes searching hers. "It's not an easy job. You've seen that firsthand."

"I have," Lucy said. "And that's why I think I'm ready for it. I know what it takes, and I know it won't be easy. But I want to try."

For a moment, Tim didn't say anything. Then, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "If this is what you want, I support you. But you need to be sure, Lucy. It's not just a job—it's a commitment. And once you're in, there's no turning back."

"I know," Lucy said, meeting his gaze with determination. "I've thought about it a lot, and I'm ready to give it everything I've got."

Tim studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. Then let's make it happen."

Relief washed over Lucy, and she couldn't help but smile. With Tim's support, the decision felt less daunting and more like an exciting challenge.

Later that evening, after Emma was tucked into bed, Lucy sat down at the dining table once again. This time, she didn't hesitate. She filled out the application form, double-checking each field before finally hitting submit.

As she closed the laptop, a sense of accomplishment settled over her. She had taken the first step toward a new chapter in her life—a chapter she was ready to embrace wholeheartedly.

In the quiet of the house, with Kojo lying at her feet and Tim sitting across from her with a supportive smile, Lucy felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope.