Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Kaida blinked up at her with glassy eyes and gave her a shy little smile. “Hi.”
My heart did something weird in my chest.
I crouched beside her. “This is Sayla,” I said gently. “She brought some stuff to help your tummy feel better.”
Sayla knelt, brushing a few damp curls away from Kaida’s forehead. “Would you like a popsicle for your tummy, honey? One that tastes like a grape?”
Kaida stared at her for a moment, then slowly lifted her arms, asking silently to be picked up.
Sayla didn’t hesitate. She scooped her up gently, holding her close like she’d done it a hundred times before. Kaida laid her head on her shoulder, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
I just watched them, throat tight. Chaos or not, hell or not—this right here felt solid: something I didn’t know how to name but didn’t want to live without.
“Let me get that popsicle,” I said, already moving toward the freezer.
And for the first time since 3 a.m., I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could do this.
Sayla
I helped Kaida hold the popsicle, carefully keeping the melting grape juice from dripping onto her pajama top. Her fingers were still a little shaky, but her color returned a bit, and she leaned into me like she was finally comfortable.
While she sucked on the popsicle, I poured a weak grape Gatorade into a sippy cup and handed it to her. She took a tentative sip, then another, before returning her full attention to Shrek, which was playing softly on the TV.
Donkey was doing his thing—loud, ridiculous, and impossible not to smile at—and Kaida let out a sleepy giggle that made my heart ache in the best way.
It was when I glanced over that something made me still.
Kairo had woken up at some point. He was lying on the couch where Roque had left him, his head tilted slightly and his eyes watching me and his sister quietly.
I offered a soft smile and leaned forward a little. “Hi, Kairo. I’m Sayla,” I said gently, not too loud or bright. “Would you like a popsicle to help cool your tummy down?”
He didn’t say anything but gave the faintest nod, his eyes wide and tired. I could see the wariness and hesitation there. It hit me like a punch to the chest.
Roque had gone to grab a quick shower—he’d looked like he needed it—and now all I could think about was how much better Kairo would’ve felt if he were here.
Still, I got up quietly, grabbed another popsicle, and poured some Gatorade into a second sippy cup, just in case.
When I returned, Kaida was chattering softly to him, as toddlers do—completely nonsensical but full of conviction. She pointed at the screen, back at me, and then to the popsicle like she was explaining a very important system.
Whatever it was, it seemed to make sense to Kairo because when I knelt beside him and handed him the treat, he took it with a small, hesitant smile.
“Fanks,” he whispered.
I blinked back at the sudden sting in my eyes. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
Roque came in just then, hair still damp, clean t-shirt clinging to his chest. He clocked Kairo immediately, a relieved smile tugging at his face.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, crouching beside the couch. “This is Sayla. She brought some cupcakes and soup over for when you feel better. They’re the best ones you’ll ever taste.”
Kairo’s eyes flicked to me, then back to Roque. He didn’t say anything, but he looked settled.
Kaida had started to droop again, her little body wilting like a flower in the sun, so I tucked her in beside her brother, pulling a light blanket over them. She curled into him instinctively, and he didn’t move away.
They watched Shrek like that, quiet and soft and close, and I stood for a moment longer just watching them.
Then, I padded into the laundry room and transferred the sheets into the dryer. The smell of detergent filled the space, clean and grounding.
When I stepped back into the kitchen, I turned to Roque. “I’ll leave you to it,” I said softly. “They’re okay now, and you’ve got this.”
He glanced over at the couch, then back to me. “Do you have to go?”
I hesitated. “It’s probably better for them if I do. They’ve had a rough night.”
He nodded reluctantly. “Yeah, okay.”
I moved through the living room to say goodbye, crouching to brush Kaida’s hair back when Kairo’s small hand suddenly closed around mine.
“Can you stay?” he asked, voice small but certain.
My heart stuttered. I looked up at Roque, who just nodded once.
“Okay,” I said, squeezing Kairo’s hand. “I’ll stay.”
And I did.
The day passed in a haze of cartoons, cold compresses, and soft voices. I rubbed little backs when the kids curled beside me, helped Roque cycle through endless loads of laundry, and tried to stop the dogs from knocking me over every time I stood up. Even Dog head-butted my leg once like he was starting to accept me again.