Marissa jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. The darkness of her bedroom was shattered by the soft glow of the nightlight, just enough to make out the small figure standing beside her bed.

"Mom?" a small, tremulous voice called out.

"Liam, honey, what's wrong?" Marissa reached out, her hand finding her son's arm in the dim light. His skin was cool to the touch, and she could feel him trembling.

"I had a bad dream," Liam whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Can I sleep with you?"

"I...I had a bad dream, Mommy," he hiccupped, burying his face in her shoulder. Marissa held him tightly, her mind racing. Ever since they had escaped his father's abuse and violence a year ago, Liam had been plagued by night terrors. She hated seeing the once vibrant, carefree little boy so tormented.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked gently, placing a tender kiss on his forehead.
Liam nodded shakily. "I...I dreamed that Daddy was hurting you and Ava and Lily again," he whispered, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks.

"I tried to stop him but he just pushed me away. I was so scared, Mommy."

Marissa's heart clenched at the raw anguish in her son's voice. She knew the abuse he had witnessed had left deep scars, scars that would take time and patience to heal. Gathering him into her arms, she rocked him gently, murmuring soothing words.
"It's okay, Liam. You're safe now, we're all safe. Daddy can't hurt us anymore, I promise." She felt him gradually relax against her, his sobs subsiding.

After a few moments, Liam pulled back slightly, his red-rimmed eyes searching her face. "Mommy, why did Daddy hurt us?" he asked, his voice small and vulnerable. "Didn't he love us?"

Marissa's breath caught in her throat. How could she possibly explain the complexities of domestic abuse to a child? "Oh, Liam," she sighed, cupping his face in her hands. "Your father...he had a lot of problems. Problems that made him do terrible things. But it was never, ever your fault, or your sisters' fault. We didn't deserve to be hurt like that."

Liam nodded slowly, seeming to absorb her words. Then, to Marissa's surprise, a glimmer of hope sparked in his eyes. "Does that mean...does that mean we can be happy now? Without Daddy?"

Marissa felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed at her son, this resilient child who had endured so much. Pulling him close, she pressed a tender kiss to his forehead. "Yes, my darling," she murmured. "We're going to be happy. I promise."

As Liam snuggled into her embrace, Marissa silently vowed to do everything in her power to make that promise a reality. They had survived the darkest of storms, and now, with courage and perseverance, they would find their way to the light.

Marissa's heart clenched with empathy. After the terrifying panic attack she'd experienced earlier that evening, triggered by the unwelcome return of her ex-husband, the last thing she wanted was to be alone. Lifting the edge of the comforter, she beckoned Liam to climb in beside her.

"Of course, sweetheart. Come here."
Liam wasted no time, scurrying into the bed and snuggling close to his mother. Marissa wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight as he buried his face against her chest. She could feel the tension in his small body, the rapid beat of his heart. Gently, she began to run her fingers through his hair, murmuring soothing word.

She knew all too well the power of nightmares, how they could linger and cast a dark shadow over the rest of the night. After her own traumatic experience with her ex, she'd had more than her fair share of restless, terror-filled nights. The fear, the feeling of helplessness - it was something no child should ever have to endure.

As Liam's trembling slowly subsided, Marissa continued to hold him, her touch gentle and reassuring. She breathed a silent prayer of gratitude that her children had been spared the worst of the fallout from her marriage. Though the scars of that time would never fully heal, she was determined to give them the safety and stability they deserved.
In the stillness of the night, Marissa felt a profound sense of protectiveness wash over her. Her ex-husband may have shattered the life she once knew, but she would be damned if he ever hurt her children. They were her world, her reason for moving forward.
And she would fight tooth and nail to keep them safe.

Pressing a soft kiss to Liam's forehead, Marissa allowed her eyes to drift shut, praying that the rest of the night would be peaceful. As she began to drift off, she couldn't help but wonder what the future might hold - for her, for her children, and for the enigmatic soldier who had so unexpectedly come into their lives.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew she would face them head-on. For her children, and for the chance at a brighter tomorrow.