Impending night

The night was ebony in shade and chilled in its breath. She held him in her arms tight as they lay in bed, her marine eyes absorbing the daunting world beyond her window and the dawn that lay not far beyond. Her smooth hands stroked Joshua’s brunette hair softly and smelled his exterior while he slept, his short arms hugging at her sides.
Emily drifted off in her dreams while lost in Joshua’s soft embrace, but this paradise lasted but so long. The sun loomed outside her window, sending the small nightlight upon the wall to pitter out and flee from its post.
A maternal figure invaded the sanctuary and wretched Emily from Joshua-the-Bear’s grasp and into Pre-School.