"Anna, I need to know how you do it."

I turn to find my coworker, Jo, speaking to me with tear stained eyes.

"Jun won't go to sleep, no matter what I try!" She wails. "I don't know what to do!"

I eye her pitiful countenance and sigh.

"I feel bad for you, " I admit, "but Yuri hasn't been waking up in the middle of the night for years now. Besides, what worked for me, might not work for you."

"Please, " she begs, eyes wide in alarm, "help me!"

"Okay, " I reply.

I was blessed. Yuri has always been a rather spectacular girl. From day one it's just been her and I, and perhaps that is part of it, but she's always been equal parts obedience and independence.

In short, she's an easy child.

"Why does he keep waking up?" I inquire.

She shakes her head. "That's the thing. I'm not sure. You know how Jun is, he won't tell me. Just mumbles and whines until I lay down with him. He'll fall asleep, but then he just wakes back up and starts screaming his head off again."

In the background, the quiet beeping from the coffee maker reminds me what I was originally doing here in the first place. I set about making my coffee as I think, and Jo waits patiently for me to reply.

"He's two years old, right?" I ask.

Jo confirms, nodding her head eagerly.

"Try giving him a sippy cup filled with warm milk, and no screen time for about an hour before bed. Try doing a quiet activity with him instead, like maybe enjoying some music together, or simple cuddles."

"The doctor says that I need to wean him from his sippy cup at night, " she complains, "his doc says that could be part of the reason why he doesn't talk just yet."

"Forgive my language Jo, but that's bullshit and you know it."

She eyes me warily, wincing, mouth closed into a grim line as I continue. She already knows exactly what I'm going to say.

"Just because he has a degree doesn't mean the doctor knows everything. Your kid Jo, your rules. You know your kid better than anyone. And the truth is, he doesn't talk yet because you guys spoil him. Why would he want to talk if you guys never make him ask for things?

She grins sheepishly, hands held out before her to appease me.

"Alright, " she groans. "I get it. I'll give it a try and see how it goes. Do you think maybe you could come over sometime and help me out?"

"I'd love to, but... " I reply, stirring creamer into my coffee lazily.

Right now we are on lunch, though I can tell that our lunch break is nearly over because the teachers lounge is beginning to become just a tad crowded. Jo is looking at me with pleading eyes again, and I sigh mournfully.

"I just can't, " I finish lamely. "I don't have anyone to watch Yuri, and I'm not delaying her bedtime for anything. Sorry Jo."

She follows me out of the lounge, each of us heading to our classrooms, me with coffee cup in hand.

I teach art, and luckily, Jo teaches music. Our classrooms are right next to each other as a result, and I couldn't be happier. Jo and I have been friends for a long time. Hell, she's the one I have to thank for exposing Yuri's father for what he was.

I can't imagine it now, but if Jo hadn't been the good friend that she is, I would have remained married to a man who simply couldn't stay faithful. At first, Jo had only been suspicious that he was cheating on me with one woman, another teacher here at my school no less.

Surprising, just how much discretion my ex-husband had lacked. Even more surprising that I didn't catch him for nearly four years, what with how sloppy he was about it.

At any rate, after digging for only a few weeks, Jo found out that he'd been keeping a whole slew of mistresses. He'd begged me not to divorce him, talking about how much he loved me, how much he loved Yuri, but in the end, I simply couldn't forgive him.

Maybe it would have been different if it was just one woman, just one time.

And the fact that he turned around and married that teacher I mentioned before, even going as far as having a child with her too, and ignoring Yuri out of spiteful hatred for me, is simply unforgivable. Now, I have to deal with the bitch daily, and more and more often I hear from Yuri that the new Mrs.Lee is giving her a hard time.

Why, just yesterday I'd had to bend the ear of the school's principal, complaining about the way that sociopath had humiliated my daughter in class.

But she's nearly untouchable.

All she had to do was smile, and pretend that she didn't know what I was talking about, pretend as if I were wrongly accusing her, and the principal had ended up lecturing me instead.

"Wait, " Jo stops suddenly in the middle of the hallway. "I thought Yuri was supposed to be with her dad this weekend?"

I sigh, rubbing my temples and suddenly wishing I'd had the time to stop at my favorite cafe this morning. The coffee here at work is abominable, and besides, maybe I would have gotten to see that handsome stranger again.

That probably would have made my day immensely.

"Jude decided that he had other plans, plans with his four-year-old son. To be honest, the news suited Yuri just fine, she doesn't want to be around her sperm donor anymore." I reveal.

"Wonder if it has anything to do with Lina? " She mutters, more to herself than anything else.

"I'm sure that's part of it, " I respond. "But too, I think she realizes that Jude doesn't love her the way he should. She's smart, you know?"

Jo shakes her head, tutting softly.

"Didn't you mention a date this weekend?" She asks, fingers already resting upon the handle to her classroom's door.

"I did, " I reply candidly, "but I guess I'm going to have to reschedule."

"Nonsense!" She replies, horror etched upon her dainty features. "It' been ages since you've been on a date! Bring Yuri over to my place before your date, I'll watch her for you!"

I smile.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!" She enthuses. "You know little Yuri has Jun wrapped around her fingers. It'd be nice for Jun to get to spend some time with her!"

I laugh because it's true. Though there is a four year difference between the two children, Yuri and Jun have taken a shine to each other in a rather surprising way. Jun follows Yuri around like a lost puppy whenever the two get together, and Yuri is absolutely enchanted by how adorable little Jun is.

"Alright, " I concede. "Thank you Jo. Whatever would I do without you?"

"Well, " she says, voice heavy with affection, "it's a good thing you'll never have to find out."