After dinner, I headed upstairs to my room, my heart still fluttering with everything that had happened. I sat on my bed, opened my diary, and wrote about the entire day — every little detail — from Jeremy's strange mood to the unbelievable fact that Louis was now my boyfriend.
Once I finished, I plugged in my headset and played my favorite playlist. Somewhere between songs, I drifted off to sleep with a smile still on my face.
Later that night, Dad came in quietly. He found me fast asleep with the music still playing, gently removed the headset, and brushed a soft kiss across my forehead.
"Goodnight, my little girl," he whispered, before turning off the lights and walking out.
As he closed my door, he saw Mom in the hallway. Their eyes met, and he gave her a playful look, a teasing spark in his smile. She raised an eyebrow but couldn't help laughing softly.
When she went downstairs to grab something from the fridge, he followed her. On the coffee table, she had already set out two half-filled glasses of wine beside a small plate of snacks.
"Hi," he said as he joined her on the sofa.
"Hey," she replied, her smile soft.
"How are you holding up, Martha?"
"I'm fine," she said, taking a sip of wine. "Just a long day."
He nodded. "Well, I think you handled it beautifully — like you always do."
She laughed lightly. "Flattery at this hour?"
"I'm serious," he said warmly. "You amaze me every single day."
Her eyes met his, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke. The glow from the television flickered softly against their faces.
He reached for her hand. "You know," he said, his voice low, "I don't think I ever told you how lucky I am to have you."
Martha blushed slightly. "You tell me every day, but I never get tired of hearing it."
He smiled, leaning closer, his forehead resting against hers. The quietness between them said more than words ever could.
They sat there for a while — two people who had weathered years of life together, still finding warmth in each other's presence.
Then, suddenly, a loud thud echoed from the kitchen.
Martha gasped. "What was that?"
She hurried toward the fridge, only to let out a startled scream.
I woke up instantly, heart pounding. The scream sounded like it came from downstairs. I rushed out of bed and ran to the living room.
When I flicked on the light, Mom was standing near the fridge, looking startled, while Dad was on the sofa pretending to watch TV.
"Mom! What happened?" I asked breathlessly.
She turned around, holding a bowl of fruit. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry — I just saw a giant rat near the kitchen!"
I frowned. "You screamed so loud you woke me up."
"I didn't mean to," she said with an embarrassed smile. "But your dad came to check and didn't find anything."
Dad nodded. "False alarm. You can go back to bed, honey."
I sighed. "Okay, but you two should get some rest too. You've got to wake up early tomorrow."
"Goodnight, dear," Dad said.
"Goodnight," Mom added with a smile.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard them whispering and laughing softly behind me. I smiled to myself — even after all these years, they still acted like newlyweds.
When my door clicked shut, Dad turned to Mom again.
"Now," he said playfully, "where were we?"
She giggled. "You and your timing."
He laughed, took her hand, and together they disappeared down the hall toward their room — two people still in love, still choosing each other every night.