Scenario:The toddler girl, buckled into a large medical stroller, has her baby sibling nestled in her lap - cradled with natural affection - or seated beside her in a double stroller setup.
Both children wear anesthesia mask harnesses, and their anesthesia masks are snugly fitted to their faces, tubing gently arcing down to visible breathing circuits and rebreather bags.
Inside each mask, anime-style fogging appears, rising in faint white patches with every small breath. The toddler's eyes are half-lidded, drifting out of focus, while the baby's are still wide and alert but starting to soften. The toddler's fingers rest limply on her sibling's arm, no longer resisting.
A nurse's gloved hand gently supports the toddler's head while the other adjusts the baby's mask with practiced precision. The lighting is warmer, with soft highlights catching the curve of the masks and subtle shadows falling across both sleepy faces.
The shared moment feels quiet and intimate - a slowing-down captured between two siblings at the edge of consciousness.
Create my version of this story
The toddler girl, buckled into a large medical stroller, has her baby sibling nestled in her lap - cradled with natural affection - or seated beside her in a double stroller setup.
Both children wear anesthesia mask harnesses, and their anesthesia masks are snugly fitted to their faces, tubing gently arcing down to visible breathing circuits and rebreather bags.
Inside each mask, anime-style fogging appears, rising in faint white patches with every small breath. The toddler's eyes are half-lidded, drifting out of focus, while the baby's are still wide and alert but starting to soften. The toddler's fingers rest limply on her sibling's arm, no longer resisting.
A nurse's gloved hand gently supports the toddler's head while the other adjusts the baby's mask with practiced precision. The lighting is warmer, with soft highlights catching the curve of the masks and subtle shadows falling across both sleepy faces.
The shared moment feels quiet and intimate - a slowing-down captured between two siblings at the edge of consciousness.
Jane
She is a mother of two young children. She is loving, tired, and nurturing. Jane struggles to care for her newborn baby, Emily, while her toddler daughter, Kate, clings to her. Jane feels overwhelmed and emotionally drained from the challenges of motherhood. She is grateful for the support of her partner, struggling alongside her as they navigate the demands of raising their family amidst financial difficulties and personal losses.
Ben
He is a father and husband. He is caring, exhausted, and determined. Despite the challenges of being a new father to Emily, Ben remains supportive and involved. He helps Jane with the children and attempts to create a stable home environment. Ben grapples with his own sense of inadequacy and the weight of responsibility while mourning the loss of his previous life, working hard to provide for his family while keeping his relationship with Jane intact.
Emily
She is a newborn baby and the youngest member of the family. She is innocent, dependent, and peaceful. Emily arrives during a difficult time for her family and quickly becomes the center of their lives. Her presence brings both joy and challenge, encouraging empathy in her siblings and creating a deeper bond between them. Despite her short time in the world, Emily contributes significantly to the dynamic within the family, requiring constant care and attention from those around her.
The toddler girl is buckled into a large medical stroller, one that will fit her for years to come.
Her baby sibling is nestled in her lap, cradled in her arms with as much natural affection as if she’d been born to be a big sister.
When they arrived, the nurses suggested Jane sit in this stroller with Kate, so they could wheel them both into the procedure room together.
But Kate has been so demanding of attention since the birth of her baby sister, two weeks ago, that Jane was afraid it would be impossible.
Surprisingly, Kate snuggled into Jane’s lap and rested her head against her shoulder as they went into the operating room.
Even more surprising was when the nurse said it was okay for Jane to stay, Kate didn’t even protest.
Emily was placed in a smaller stroller beside them.
Both children wear anesthesia mask harnesses, and their masks are snugly fitted to their faces.
The tubing arcs down from the masks to the visible breathing circuits and rebreather bags.
Inside each mask, there is a faint white patch where the plastic fogs from their breath.
