Mine

Dreams & Memories

Dedicating this one to @ moonpkm because their comments make my day💙
Thanks for all of the support! ~Mizu

Chapter 9.
"Kirbiscan," a soft voice calls.

I open my eyes slowly at hearing my name, and rub my heavy eyes.

"Hey, baby boy."

A woman with dark pink hair leans forward, giving me a peck on the forehead.

"Mama?"

"Come, let's go down to Papa, okay?" She keeps her voice quiet, and helps me out of the bed, and I grip onto her hand tightly with my much smaller one.

We walk by the dark window, and I look up at my Mom in confusion, my eyes still blurred with sleep. Why were we awake so late? She always told me I needed to sleep early to grow taller and be a stronger boy.

"Mama, what's wrong?"

"Shhh." She shushes me quietly, placing her finger in front of her lips. "It's okay, my love. Do you want a snack?"

I shake my head. I didn't like seeing my mama worry. I hold tighter onto her warm hand, following close beside her.

When we step into the cold kitchen, she sits me down on my stool and bustles around, seeming to tidy things up. I fiddle with my hands in my lap, yawning.

The door is pushed open, and Mama jumps back, before moving forward again when Papa walks in.

I feel a frown growing on my face.

I remember this.

My father goes to me, pushing his hair back with his hand and kneeling to my height.

"Hey, Kirb," he says, ruffling my hair. A smile flows easily onto his face, and all of my worries seemed to disappear.

I giggle, leaning into his touch.

"Welcome home, papa," I say, and I jump into his now soread arms to give him a big hug. He grips onto me tightly, and I bury my head into his warm neck.

Mama comes over and hugs us too, but she steps back sooner than Papa does, her hand remaining on his shoulder before she turns away from me.

"Is Mama mad at me? Why is she crying?"

Papa leans leans away, looking into my eyes with his own icy blue ones. His hands cup my cheeks and he shakes his head.

"She's not mad at you, Kirbiscan. She's just sad," he says, and there's a sadness in his eyes, too.

"Why?"

He pauses. "I brought you a gift from my trip."

He moves his hands away and pulls something shiny out of his pocket. He dangles it in front of me and my eyes widen.

It was a chain with a little star at the end, covered in little spots of sparkles that made it look like it held galaxies if you looked close enough.

He takes my hand gently, and places the charm in the palm, closing my fingers around it.

"Kirbiscan... your mother and I have to go," he says. His voice is strained, as if he were holding back tears; but Papa never cried.

I look up, confused. Mama never went on business trips with Papa.

"We're not sure when we'll be back, so while we're gone, I want you to make us a promise."