The Space in Between

Chapter 19

I needed a distraction. I decided to visit Raffy and be with the kids even for a short time.

When I got to the Kids' Ward, Raffy was playing with another girl and she waved at me with a huge smile on her face.

I sat on the floor next to Raffy. She asked me, "Do you want to join us, Liv?"

"Sure." I replied, picked up a doll and started styling it.

Raffy's been looking at me from time to time and whenever our eyes would meet, she'd smile. Then she spoke without looking at me, "I want to grow up and make my mom happy. I want to be strong and be alive for her. I don't want to see her cry, I don't want anyone to cry because of me."

I looked at her with a slight smile and nodding but in my head, it says, Oh Raffy, how can you be so innocent? If only you knew how difficult it is to live, to be an adult. It also got me thinking, will someone cry if I'm gone? Will someone get sad because of me?

While brushing the hair of the doll, she glanced at me and said, "you look sad. Why is that?"

I didn't expect her to say something like that and I was caught off guard. I almost choke with my own words.

Raffy, being a smart kid, noticed it and immediately took it upon her in handling the situation. "It's alright, Liv. You don't have to say it. I know adults are dealing with a lot of issues and sometimes they don't feel like sharing it with the kids. You're here now, you can play with us and somehow forget what's bothering you, even for a short time."

I looked at her with astonishment. I smiled, both girls smiled at me. My heart felt lighter. I spent my day playing with kids without realizing the time is passing by.

I helped Raffy get back to her room. It was indeed a fun day.

"Thank you, Liv, for spending your time and playing with us today. It really means a lot to us since we rarely see other people nowadays." Raffy said. Her mom looked at her as if she's hurt by what the kid said. "I'm just joking, Mom. Jeez, adults are hard to please." Raffy smiled at her mom teasingly. We all laughed.

I took my phone out and typed a message, "Are you free today?", before hitting send.

Almost instantaneously, I heard a beep from a reply, "Where are you?"

"Is that Dre?" I heard from Raffy's sweet voice. I nodded.

She smiled and said in jest, "He must be missing you." She then started singing, "Dre and Liv sitting on a tree..."

Her mom and I shouted in unison, "RAFFY!!!"

I felt a rush of blood on my face and we started laughing.