Fireflies

57

"Will you tell me what happened? With you?" I offered him my hand, hoping my warmth would reach him.

Mark cupped her face, heaved a deep breath, and then he nodded. "There's no escaping the hurt, right? It just doesn't end unless you let it bleed, even if it has to be over and over again."

—————

MARK

3 years ago

He dressed in sweats, the comfort of the blanket pulling him into escaping the rain. Mark might have hoped he could have the time to stay there forever, surrounded by good music and an ample amount of humid air to tuck him in tightly under the covers.

"What are you doing?"

Melody enters the room, poking her brother with delicate hands. She pushed herself up to reach his bed and then she joined him in the covers, both cheeks rising up as her eyes reflected a marveled curiosity.

Mark stifled a laughter.

"Melody, did you take off your shoes?"

She grinned. "I did, I swear. So, what are you doing?"

Mark mumbled scribbling on his notebook and then he pinched her cheeks.

"Melody, why did you come in here right after you got home from school?" he said, his chest vibrating as he hugged her.

"I wanted to see you and show you what I wrote for class today."

Melody pulled out a piece of paper out of her bag and then she shoved it into his hands, the excitement visible on her face.

He raised his brows, assessing the combinations of words on the piece of almost crumpled paper.

"Would you like me to read it?"

She nodded eagerly, clasping her little hands together after wrapping herself under the thick blanket of her older brother's cozy room whom she truly adored.

i wake up erly

hoping to see mommy

she leaves so erly

i wama tell her sorry

teddy told me i was bad

and i made mommy sad

can she come home?

daddy tells me yes

but i sleep before she comes

mr moon pls wake me

"Why are you so sad?" he asked her, pulling the little girl in an embrace and planting a soft kiss at the top of her head.

"Mommy is mad at me," she said in sniffles. "I don't want her to be mad."

Mark caressed her back and then he couldn't help but look at his sister. "Mom is not mad at you, Melody. She just needs to be away for work, okay? You did nothing wrong."

"Why does she have to go? I miss her every day."

He laughed softly. "Trust me, sunshine, she wants to be with us too and you don't have to tell her you're sorry. Crying is okay, all right? Whenever you tell her you miss her, it's okay."