Yes

Anna pushed the door open slowly, her heart thudding in her chest as she stepped inside. Her first impression was that she had walked into a surreal mix of a daycare and a luxurious nursery. The walls were painted with soft pastel rainbows, cartoon bunnies bouncing through grassy fields, and balloons drifting into a cloudy blue sky. A faint lullaby played from somewhere, a soothing melody that blended with the gentle atmosphere of the room.

The floor was covered with thick foam mats, patterned with bright stars, smiling suns, and colorful shapes that made each step feel cushioned. In the center of the room was an oversized padded changing table. Its surface gleamed under the soft lighting, made from a wipeable quilted material that looked almost too comfortable. A mobile hung above it, spinning slowly, with plush animals—lambs, bears, and kittens—dangling from it. The soft twinkling music from the mobile seemed to accompany the hum of the room.

Against the far wall was a row of wooden cubbies, each one labeled with the same names Anna had seen on the doors in the hallway. Inside each cubby were neatly folded stacks of diapers. Some were decorated with playful pastel patterns—cartoon animals, stars, and flowers—while others were plain and pristine white. Alongside the stacks were bottles of baby powder and small containers of wipes. The organization was meticulous, and the sight of so many cubbies emphasized the scale of this environment.

As Anna scanned the names, her eyes fell on one cubby marked Anna Williams. Unlike the others, hers was completely empty. Her stomach fluttered at the sight, though she wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or curiosity.

A gentle rustling sound caught her attention, drawing her gaze to the center of the room. A man stood calmly at the changing table, his posture relaxed and unhurried. He had a warm, open face with dark hair and kind eyes, and he was focused on the task at hand. A girl with strawberry-blonde hair tied into loose pigtails lay atop the table. She sucked softly on a pastel-pink pacifier, her eyes half-lidded in contentment. She was dressed in a ruffled onesie with a pink floral pattern, her bare legs kicking gently as if she were playing. In her arms, she clutched a well-loved stuffed bear, holding it close to her chest.

The man, Ethan, was fastening the tapes of her fresh diaper with a practiced ease, his motions calm and efficient. He spoke to her softly, though Anna couldn’t make out the words. The girl didn’t seem to mind being changed in the slightest. She let out a soft hum, her pacifier bobbing slightly as she held her bear tighter. The entire scene felt strangely intimate yet routine, as if this was just another part of the day in Coral Hall.

The door creaked faintly as it shut behind Anna, causing Ethan to glance up. His eyes met hers, and a small, warm smile spread across his face. His expression was calm and unreadable, but not unkind.

“Ah,” he said, his tone even and soothing. “You must be Anna.”

Anna stood frozen for a moment, feeling her cheeks flush. She opened her mouth to speak but found her words caught somewhere between curiosity and nervousness. Ethan seemed to notice her hesitation and gestured gently with one hand.

“It’s all right,” he said, his voice reassuring. “You can come in. I was just finishing up.”

Anna stepped further into the room, her eyes flicking back to the girl on the changing table. The strawberry-blonde smiled faintly around her pacifier, giving Anna a little wave before turning her attention back to her stuffed bear. Ethan carefully lifted her off the table and placed her gently on the floor. She toddled off to a small basket of toys in the corner, humming as she went.

Ethan turned back to Anna, folding his arms loosely. “I’m Ethan,” he said, introducing himself. “Your assigned caretaker. I’m here to help you settle in, answer any questions, and, well…” He gestured lightly to the room around them, his smile deepening. “Make sure you’re comfortable.”

Anna nodded slowly, her mind racing. The room, the cubbies, the girl with the pacifier—it was all so surreal, yet Ethan’s calm presence seemed to ground her, if only slightly.

“I… um… just wanted to look around,” Anna said softly, glancing nervously at the cubbies again. Her eyes flicked back to the empty one with her name.