Jacob sat on the edge of the worn couch in their tiny living room, his hands clasped tightly as he stared at the floor. The sun streamed weakly through the blinds, casting stripes of light across the scuffed hardwood beneath his boots.
In another life, this time of morning might have been peaceful. But for Jacob, it only served as a reminder of how heavy the days had become. Across from him, Maria cradled their three-month-old son, Leo, gently rocking him.