And while you’re here, subscribe so you’ll always catch the next story. The sky was still dark when Nia Brooks opened her eyes, but she knew exactly what time it was. Every morning at 5:30, her internal clock would wake her, just like her mother had taught her. She didn’t need an alarm. This was their special time together.
Quietly padding down the hallway in her fuzzy pink socks, Nia found her mother already in their small kitchen, measuring coffee grounds into the filter. The familiar scent made her smile. “Good morning, baby,” Relle said softly, reaching out to smooth Nia’s curly hair. “Ready to help?” Nia nodded, moving to the refrigerator to get the eggs.
This was their morning ritual, one they’d been doing for months now. The kitchen was peaceful in the pre-dawn quiet, just the soft clicking of the gas stove and the gentle clink of plates as mother and daughter worked side by side. Two eggs today? Nia asked, already knowing the answer. It was always two eggs scrambled just right, not too dry.
That’s right, Rochelle confirmed, pulling out two pieces of wheat bread for the toaster. And remember, not too much pepper. Nia finished with a grin. She’d memorized exactly how Mr. Witmore liked his breakfast. As they worked, Relle hummed softly, an old gospel tune her own mother used to sing. The sound filled their kitchen with warmth, mixing with the growing light of dawn that was starting to peek through their curtains.
