It’s Friday night and Miyu is in her room, playing with her toys because I had declared TV time over. Our microwave oven says that in 17 minutes and 45 seconds, the baking sweet potato inside will be ready to devour. Outside, the sounds of cars passing by rain-slicked roads make my eyes and shoulders droop with the promise of a good night’s sleep.

My thoughts are like the tangled Christmas lights boxed up in our closet, eager to come out but the timing just isn’t right. Lost time, vivid dreams, flashes of pain. My little girl is growing up and she’s becoming more and more beautiful each day.

How I ache to hold my camera.