Fatherhood

The time is 3:00am. I'm tired and worn out. Staring at my laptop screen, I realise I can no longer focus on the moving pixels. A sudden sense of unrealness sweeps over me as I become momentarily disorientated in time and space. For a moment I find myself wondering what on earth I am doing awake at this hour when every fibre of my being is calling out for precious blessed rest. The computer game showing on my screen is no longer holding any attraction for me. There is a limit to everything. I close my laptop, and lie back onto the bed. The mattress suddenly feels so heavenly, so comfortable. I almost fall asleep as soon as the soft fabric touches my skin...
A baby's cry pierces the deep silence of the night. Then I remember. Feeding time.
Pulling myself out of the bed with a burst of energy I did not know I possessed, I move to the baby cot to tend to my baby. Seeing her wriggle about uncomfortably, her tiny mouth opening and closing in a silent demand to "Feed me! Feed me!", any remaining shred of fatigue dissolves from me as I carry her in my arms and attempt to soothe her in a high-pitched voice.
"It's okay, it's okay," I coo as I rock her gently. As her face smoothens into a calmer expression, I slowly set her back onto the cot. From past experience over the last 2 weeks(2 weeks! It feels like I have been doing this forever!), I know I only have a couple of minutes' grace before she catches on that I am no longer holding her. I rush to the kitchen, remove the bottle and teat from the steriliser, assemble them together with lightning speed, and pour the chilled milk from the refrigerator into the bottle. I pour hot water into a cup, and all but throw the bottle into it while making my way back to the room.
I am a bit late, as I hear her cry as I enter the room. My wife, just awoken, cradles her and soothes her as I set down the cup waiting for the milk to warm up. I move to my wife and baby. Together, we look lovingly at her angelic face, love spilling out of our hearts uncontrollably.
A sudden sense of unrealness sweeps over us as we dwell in the bliss of parenthood.