You and Me, Always.

Tiny

Beams of sunlight snuck into Janette's room through the gaps in the blind. Monday morning. She thought, mentally preparing herself for the most difficult task of the day: getting out of bed.

Twenty minutes and sufficient avoidance later, she finally crawled out of the ruffled duvet. Placing both feet on the ground she discovered pillows thrown all around the room. Picking each one up lazily, she arranged her bed the way it usually was and tossed her hair up into a quick ponytail before making her way into the shower.

Tugging a brush through her tangled mop of hair, she glanced over to the clock. Ten forty. Aljaz would be coming back with the twins at 11, so she picked up the pace.

She headed into the kitchen, grabbing her daily banana on the way. She then opened the cupboard full of baby supplies, taking two bowls for the girls. She then selected another banana and cut it in half before mashing it up for the pair of them.

Placing the food into the fridge, she whipped up a coffee for herself and made her way to the living room and plonked herself onto the sofa. The coffee table in the living room was lined with photos of her with the twins. One from when they went to the park for the first time, one from the day they had ice cream and managed to spill it all over themselves, and one from the day they were born. Janette was sitting in a floral patterned dress, a twin in each arm. Gosh, they were so tiny. She thought to herself, gazing at the version of herself in the photo that seemed so distant from now.

Her thoughts were disrupted by the loud chime of the doorbell. Rolling her eyes and sighing, she placed her coffee and banana peel onto the table and headed to open the door. Taking a minute to brace herself for another week minus sleep, she unlocked it and pulled it open.

Aljaz stood behind the pram, changing bag in one arm. "Hi." He smiled a little, pushing the pram towards Janette. The twins lay asleep inside. "They were fantastic." Aljaz whispered, before handing the bag over to his ex-wife. "Thanks. See you on Friday." Janette answered. She looked up and gazed into his eyes. A year ago, she would have leaned in to kiss him. Now, she shut the door, turning into the apartment and taking the twins to their room.

She lifted Eva first, her head flopped onto her shoulder in deep sleep. She placed her into the cot, followed by Ana. Most people couldn't tell them apart, but Janette had a knack to it. She liked to think it was a superpower, not just the fact she was their mother.

They looked like two identical cupcakes - dressed in their pink and turquoise, lying huddled together, asleep. Janette smiled as she lay down on the bed beside the cot - a few minutes shut-eye wouldn't make much difference.

Half an hour later, Janette jerked out of sleep. She glanced at the cot beside her - both girls were still asleep. She turned to examine the clock - 11:50 it read. I've been asleep for that long? She thought to herself before sitting up and rubbing her eyes. The twins would be awake for lunch soon, and mashed banana would not suffice for them, so she headed to the kitchen.

Less than twenty minutes later, she heard snuffles coming from the bedroom. Eva. I'll bet any more that's Eva. She laughed as she walked over to check. She was right - Eva was laying on her back wiggling around, making little breathing sounds. Ana had one thumb in her mouth and her other hand across Eva's chest. She's always been the heavy sleeper. Just like me. Janette thought. She picked Eva up gently, carrying her over to the kitchen and placing her in her high chair. She squirmed and giggled a little, playfully tugging at her hair and squealing as Janette looked on. A smile was faintly lingering on her face, as though she was watching Eva but her mind was elsewhere. Lost in memories of what used to be.