The Midnight Cry

I'm a night-shift worker at a factory, and my little girl has been acting out more lately. She's been staying up late to play with me during the day when I come home, but tonight was different. The clock hit midnight, and there she was in her pajamas, crying softly in her room. Her eyes were red from holding back tears all night long. I went over, sat on her bed, and just held her while she wept into my shoulder. We talked about it for hours, me whispering soothing words, telling her everything will be okay. It's tough being a single mommy working nights, trying to keep up with the demands of both worlds. She falls asleep in my arms eventually, but I stay awake thinking, making plans to get better at balancing it all.