• Golden rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting soft streaks of light across the wooden floors. The neighbourhood was slowly coming to life as birds chirped outside, cars rumbled down the streets, and the faint breeze carried the fresh scent of the morning. From the kitchen came the comforting aroma of butter sizzling in a pan, crispy bacon, toasted bread, and freshly brewed coffee. It was a peaceful morning—or at least it seemed that way.

In the kitchen, breakfast was already well underway. Plates were neatly arranged across the dining table while pancakes browned on the stove beside scrambled eggs and fruit that had been carefully prepared. The person cooking moved quickly from one task to another, determined to make sure everyone had something to eat before the busy day ahead. Although the food looked picture-perfect, the calm atmosphere didn’t last for long.

The quiet house was suddenly filled with the familiar sounds of footsteps thundering down the hallway, doors opening and closing, and voices rising over one another. What had begun as a simple disagreement quickly turned into the usual morning chaos. Someone was frustrated over missing belongings, another was upset about the bathroom taking too long, while the others eagerly defended themselves. The argument bounced from room to room, growing louder with every passing second until the once-peaceful house felt more like the centre of a storm.

Despite the commotion, there was an unmistakable sense that today was different. School bags had been packed the night before, freshly ironed uniforms hung neatly by the door, and schedules had been checked more times than anyone could count. Beneath the irritation and hurried rush was a quiet mixture of excitement and nervousness that none of them wanted to admit.*