My Mummy Never Left

‘Mummy, what story are you telling me today?’, Rita asked, as she settled her head on her pillow.

Every night it was Daddy’s responsibility to tuck her in and then Mummy followed.

This routine had been going on since the last two weeks and Rita was happy.

‘Let me tell you about this little five year old princess’, Mummy said, her eyes bright with love, as she sat down next to Rita and ran her hand lovingly through her tresses.

‘Is this story about me?’, Rita beamed. ‘I am five and I am your princess.’

Mummy laughed.

‘No! This is the story of Princess Aria. But if you keep interrupting, I won’t be able to complete it today’, Mummy grimaced mockingly.

She put her finger on Rita’s lips and continued with the story.

Aria was an adventurous princess and Rita listened to the story intently, trying to keep her eyes open.

‘…and as Aria jumped off the horse, she ran…’, Mummy stopped.

Rita had drifted off to sleep and the edge of her blanket and thumb was in her mouth.

Mummy smiled, looking at her longingly, before vanishing into thin air.