Maya sat cross-legged on the rug, clutching her stuffed bear tightly. Her eyes darted toward the clock every few minutes. "Is it time yet?" she called out to her mother in the kitchen. Her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves.
Her mother appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel. "Almost, sweetheart. Your dad will be home with your new sister soon," she reassured, offering a warm smile.
Maya sprang to her feet, her bear forgotten on the floor, as she rushed to the window. She could see her father stepping out of the car, carefully cradling a small bundle. Her stomach fluttered with a new wave of anticipation.
"They're here!" she shouted, her voice a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Her father, a tall man with gentle eyes, walked in with Ella nestled securely in his arms. "Maya, meet your baby sister," he said softly, his voice filled with pride.
Maya tiptoed closer, her eyes fixed on Ella's tiny face. The baby was swaddled in a soft pink blanket, her eyes shut tight as she slept peacefully. "She's so small," Maya whispered, awe coloring her voice.
"Would you like to hold her?" her father asked, kneeling down beside her, his voice gentle and encouraging.
Maya nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out. The warmth of Ella's little body filled her with a sudden sense of responsibility.
Maya marveled at the weight of her sister, light yet so significant. Her thoughts were a swirl of questions and promises. "Will she always be this quiet?" she wondered aloud, glancing up at her mother.
"Not always," her mother chuckled, sitting beside her. "But you'll be a great big sister, Maya. You'll teach her everything you know."
Maya smiled, imagining stories and adventures they would share. She felt a new sense of purpose, a determination to be the best sister she could be.
The day had been long, but Maya felt a contentment she had never known. As she lay in bed, her eyes grew heavy, yet her mind was filled with dreams of the future.
"Goodnight, Maya," her mother whispered, tucking her in. "Goodnight, big sister."
Maya smiled in the darkness, her heart swelling with love for her new role and her little sister. "Goodnight, Ella," she murmured, drifting off to sleep with dreams of the journeys ahead.
