A regular day

The sun was just beginning to peek through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the living room where Bella was still curled up on the bed. She had spent another restless night, her mind racing with thoughts of the future.

The emotional rollercoaster of the past few days had left her feeling both excited and apprehensive about the changes ahead.

As Bella stirred, she noticed that the bed was empty. The water sounds were coming from the bathroom. Rachel had already left for bath, which wasn't surprising given that her mother is still sleeping like a log.

She grabbed her phone to check the time and noticed a message from Lucas: Good morning, beautiful. Hope you're feeling better today. Remember to take it easy. Sorry but I have an important meeting so I can't visit you in the morning. Can't wait to see you and Rachel later.

A smile crept onto her face. His text had found a way of lifting her spirits. She sent a quick reply, assuring him she was doing okay, then got up to prepare breakfast for herself and rachel.

After a light breakfast, she dropped rachel at her school and returned home. After coming home, Bella decided to tackle some of the household chores that had piled up over the week.

She started with the laundry, feeling a sense of accomplishment as she sorted and loaded the washing machine. While waiting for the clothes to finish, she took a moment to call her boss. She had been putting it off, but it was time to address the discomfort she felt in her job.

"Hello, Mike," she greeted him, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Bella! How's it going?" he asked, his tone cheerful.

"Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you," she said, taking a deep breath. "I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, and I think it might be best if I take a step back."

"Is everything okay?" Mike asked, concern lacing his voice.

"I'm fine, it's just… I've been feeling a lot of stress, especially with everything happening in my life right now," she explained, choosing her words carefully.

"Stress can be tough, especially in this line of work. Maybe you should consider taking a break?" he suggested.

"I've thought about that, but I don't want to leave the team short-handed," Bella replied, feeling guilty for even considering quitting.

"Listen, Bella," Mike said, his tone shifting to one of understanding. "If it's stressing you out, you should do what's best for your mental health. You can always find another job, but don't feel like you have to push through for us. Your well-being is more important."

His words resonated with her, and she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you, Mike. I appreciate that," she said sincerely.

"It's nothing Bella. If you ever need my help don't forget to ask me alright. You can come tomorrow to finish the formalities." Mike said earning a yes boss from Bella.

After hanging up, she felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. The thought of leaving her job was daunting, but it was comforting to know she had Lucas's support. Just then, the washing machine beeped, interrupting her thoughts.

A few hours later, Bella went to pick up rachel from her school. Bella reached the gates to see Rachel bounding in, her backpack bouncing on her shoulders. "Mumma!" Rachel exclaimed, her face lighting up as she spotted Bella.

"Hey, sweetheart! How was school?" Bella asked, kneeling down to hug her.

"Great! We learned about dinosaurs today!" Rachel responded excitedly, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Dinosaurs, huh? That sounds fun! What's your favorite dinosaur?" Bella asked as she guided Rachel to their home.

"Um… probably the T-Rex! It's so big and scary!" Rachel giggled, imitating a T-Rex roar.

Bella laughed along, her heart warming at Rachel's joy. "Well, I'm sure they were great at scaring everyone, but I bet you could outrun one, right?"

"Of course! I'm super fast!" Rachel declared, puffing out her chest with pride.

As they returned home, they quickly settled down for lunch. Bella couldn't help but feel grateful for these moments. The warmth of her home, the laughter they shared, it all felt right.

They enjoyed sandwiches and fruit, with Rachel chattering about her day. Bella listened intently, feeling a sense of normalcy returning. Once they finished eating, Bella suggested, "How about we do something fun this afternoon?"

"What do you want to do?" Rachel asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"We could play a game or maybe do some arts and crafts. What do you think?" Bella offered.

"Arts and crafts! Yes! Let's make something cool!" Rachel replied, bouncing in her seat.

As they cleared the table, Bella felt a twinge of discomfort in her stomach. She brushed it off, attributing it to a lingering effect of her earlier upset stomach. She didn't want to worry Rachel or ruin their day.

After cleaning up, they headed to the living room and spread out supplies for their crafting project. They cut, colored, and glued together various materials, laughing and chatting as they created masterpieces. Bella felt a warmth in her heart, grateful for these simple moments of happiness.