𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄

Prologue

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐇𝐔𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐃 lowly as he glared at the puzzle pieces that spread across the carpet of the living room floor. He had been trying to put the same puzzle together for about two hours now. It was so frustrating because he kept jerking and accidentally messing it up—he was determined to get it done though.

He ignored the wavering noises that echoed from the television box as he hauled a puzzle piece in place. He wasn't being mindful of anything else around him.

"We're goin' onna—trip in our fav—Annoying orange!" Kaires jammed out to the hip-hop version of the Little Einstein theme song that played out in his head, uncontrollably twitching his shoulders.

He smiled as he carefully slid in the last piece, the large image of SpongeBob finally complete.

"Yes!" He grinned proudly, his small gap on display as he waved over Amani, his older sister—to see the finished product.

"I can see it from here! I told you that you could do it!" She smiled softly, a sense of warmth invading her body and not just because she was standing over the stove. 

Amani had picked up that puzzle when she was in the line at Marshall's a couple of weeks ago. They hadn't done anything fun in a while so she figured that she would give him the chance to try it out.

She had noticed him fighting with himself so she would encourage him to keep going. It was a small win but they needed and deserved it.

Amani plated the boxed Mac and cheese on a paper plate. She spun around to present the food to her younger brother, frowning when she saw him on the floor, leaning up against the couch and repeatedly slapping his head.

She mentally slapped herself from how loud the tv was. Amani quickly slid the plate onto the marble island and rushed over to the living room area.

They were just cheering a few moments ago, she assumed that he had just ended the conversation but he was silently having a tic attack.

"No no no, Kaires." She grasped both of his wrists to keep him from hurting himself. His face was still scrunching up and he kept reaching his shoulder to his right ear.

He whimpered and stammered as his eyes rolled back. Amani wrapped his active arms around her back and she began to rub his, trying to soothe him.

Kaires had Tourette syndrome. It was a condition that disrupted his nervous system. He made uncontrollable movements and sounds. When he was younger they thought he had social anxiety disorder, which he did but a couple of months ago, he started showing signs of Tourette's.

Right now, he was having a tic attack which only happened when he was sick or if he was overwhelmed or something.

In this case, Amani had left the television's volume up too high and he was frightened by the heightened noises of an old action film. At first, he didn't let it bother him since he was so focused on the puzzle, but because he didn't have anything to keep his attention, the television invaded his ears.

If she didn't grab or occupy his arms, he would have continued to harm himself and could have ended up with a concussion.

"Shit! I'm so sorry Reese Cup! I completely forgot to switch the channel. Where is that remote!" Her eyes stammered around the room as she covered his ears with her hands before shouting, "Chris! Bring me the chocolate chips!"

Moments later her boyfriend, Chris, returned with some Toll House milk chocolate chips. Amani scooped a couple in her hand before feeding them to a quivering Kaires.

Chocolate chips always helped for some reason so Amani made sure to always keep a stash of them in the pantry. It was like a comfort food or something. He had always liked chocolate but the shape of the chips was just better to him.