A New Life

ONE YEAR LATER

Cassandra's POV

  I heaved out a tired breath  as I hefted a tray and began making my way to the table whose orders were in the tray. I was still laying out the orders when one of my colleagues walked towards me.

"Some of your little lions are awake," she whispered into my ears and I sighed.

A few months ago, I had given birth to three adorable baby boys who I had named Robin, Justin and Mason. I had totally freaked out on hearing that I would be having triplets and almost fainted the first time that all three of them cried at the same time but being a mother of triplets had slowly begun to grow on me.

Having three children at once meant that I couldn't afford a maternity leave because of money so about a week after their birth, I was back to working. I had about three jobs but my expenses gobbled up most of my income and paying for a babysitter would leave me without savings so I decided to work with my kids in tow.

It had been difficult to find jobs that would let me bring my babies to work with me but eventually, I had found several jobs that allowed it.

"Sally is watching them but Robin is particularly cranky, as usual," She added and I increased the pace of my work.

Robin was the one who usually cried the most despite being the oldest of the trio and he was hardly comforted by anyone that wasn't me. The three brothers took up every free time I had and it felt very satisfying to give it to them so I was happy.

Sometimes however, I wondered what it would be like if I hadn't gotten robbed in the first twenty-four hours of my stay here and was still in contact with my family. Would I have been able to ask them for money so that I could have more time to myself?

I doubted that very much and sometimes, I was even glad that I had lost contact with everyone from home. It had really helped me to break out of my old life.

In a few seconds, I was in the back room where my children usually lay in a large crib which the manager here had gifted me. Like I had been informed, they were being watched by Sally who held Robin in her arms trying to comfort him while he screamed at the top of his little voice.

Mason was sleeping which I had no idea how he could manage with all the noise Robin was making. Justin however lay in their crib looking about until his eyes landed on me then lightened up in recognition.

I walked towards the crib and rubbed his back making him crow in excitement before I moved to take Robin from Sally. She smiled in relief as I collected the crying Robin then began to pacify him.

"I don't know why he acts so clingy. Is he scared that his younger siblings will take you away from him?" Sally joked once Robin had stopped crying and was suckling from my breast.

"I really don't know," I chuckled just as Justin began to cry too.

Sally picked him from the crib once he began crying and he immediately kept quiet as his blue eyes began roving around the room while his mouth sucked on his little fingers.

It was good that he decided to be calm today and not to demand to be fed. He and Robin were the active ones while Mason often slept or lay in bed silently unless disturbed by soiled diapers, hunger or few other things.

Sometimes, it felt like I had a slightly older baby which was Mason and then twin children which were the other two.

I soon finished breastfeeding Robin and then moved to Justin even though Robin was refusing to leave my arms after getting fully breastfed. He cried a bit on being separated from me before getting enthralled by a toy which Sally was holding and keeping quiet.

I was breastfeeding Justin when a smell of something burning suddenly hit my nostrils making me recoil.

"Why am I smelling something burning?" I complained out loud and Sally burst into laughter.

"Something burning? That can never happen in this neighborhood, unless it's food burning," she answered and I frowned.

"No, it doesn't smell like food," I muttered.

"Then, it's not possible."

"I guess so," I conceded. "Maybe it's just my imagination. I also noticed that for a couple of nights, I have been hearing different sounds in my head at home even during the middle of the night."

"In that silent neighborhood of yours?" Sally asked and I nodded. "You must be imagining things now truly," she laughed.

"Maybe it's because I'm stressed?"

"Maybe," she shrugged.

"Or best-case scenario, you might be a werewolf. I've heard of people who don't unlock their wolves until they are thirty… although, you're younger than that," Shejoked and we both laughed. "I should get back to work."

"Okay, just place Robin in the crib and you can be on your way."

"Let's just hope he doesn't begin singing at the loudest volume he can attain."

"He probably will," I chuckled in reply just as she put him down alongside the toy he was playing with.

"Someone is determined to surprise Mommy," Sally smiled when he didn't start crying on being placed in the crib.

"I guess so," I laughed. "Thank you for helping," I appreciated and she waved at me in reply.

"It's nothing."

Soon I was done breastfeeding and I placed Justin back in the crib. Since Mason was still asleep, his breastfeeding would have to be postponed till he woke up.

I watched the three children who were more important to me than life as the two boys who were awake played and Mason slept peacefully. My children were so beautiful.

I turned on the lights that danced around the crib minutes later and slowly made my way out of the room. I was scared the first time I left them alone but with time, I had begun getting accustomed to the idea even though it still made me uncomfortable.

"Cassandra, you won't believe what I just heard," Sally's voice rang once I entered the public area of the restaurant.

"What is it?"

"There was a fire in the next street."

"Oh... That's sad," I remarked.

"Don't you remember that you were saying something was burning before?" She asked and my eyes immediately lit up.

That was true. But did I really smell a fire that was several blocks away? 

Was that even possible?