In the middle of the night she came.  As is always the way with this little one we could hear here before we could see her.  On the very rare occasion she needs us at night she CHARGES from her room at the distant end of the hall down to ours.  She bursts through the doors and the footsteps ring out heavily. 

John was already up ready to swoop her into his arms.  He softly shushed her and led her back to her room.  Soft words, gentle reminders, and a snuggle and kiss were not enough this time.  The tears were different and flowed unceasingly.  He made the quick decision to let her sleep between us; a decidedly rare event. 

When his alarm went off at 4:15 AM she stirred.  He offered her to return to her own bed.  She took him up on it.

A few hours later when she and Johanna descended the stairs in search of resuming the princess play they’d left the night before, I saw her sweet face.

Ouch.

She had fallen out of bed. Through tears she couldn’t explain it, and in the dark John never saw it. 

And don’t you love those EYES?