Eliza

6

—ELIZA—

My mama helps me change into my onesie. She kneels in front of me to zip it up, then wipes the tears off my cheeks.

I pinch my wrist. Mama. Mama. Mama.

"Let's get you snug, yeah?"

I nod, sniffling. She smiles and lifts me up, setting me down on the bed. She pulls the covers up and puts me onto the mattress before grabbing another blanket. She cocoons me within it before adding another before finally folding the duvet over me, tucking it into my sides. She pulls the top of my dolphin onesie onto my head.

"There, baby girl. Do you feel better?"

"Don't leave me here mama." I croak.

Her expression warms. "I'm not going to leave you. Ever."

I continue to pinch my wrists under the covers. She leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek. "You take a nap, and when you wake up I'll make you some food. How does that sound?"

"G-good."

"Okay." She says, kissing my cheek again. "Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

I nod.

"Okay." She repeats. She lays down beside me, leaning on the headboard. I rest my cheek on her shoulder, and she wraps an arm around me. She kisses my cheek.

     "I love you." She says.

     "I l-love you too."

     And then I fall asleep.

—MIA—

I stand up after a few minutes of Eliza sleeping. I plant a kiss on her temple before leaving the room, making my way downstairs.

I walk into the kitchen. It's empty when I get there, but it doesn't take long until Sam and Luca walk in, seemingly always together just as they used to be. The former is eight, and the latter is ten, so they're close in age.

     "Hi." I say.

     Sam looks at Luca, who shakes his head. Neither of them reply, only walk over to the fridge, grab two flavoured waters and leave.

     I frown and search through the cupboards. To try and make Eliza feel better, I decide to bake her favourite cookies. I enjoy baking, it makes me feel.. like myself.

I find everything quickly, then begin to mix the ingredients together. A quarter of an hour passes before the dough is done. I shape them into circles and slide them into the oven.

"What are you doing?" Dante asks.

     I turn around to look at him. "Baking. Don't worry, I'll give you the money for the ingredients I used. I want to make them for Eliza, and for the boys if they want them."

     He regards me warily as he comes to stand beside me. "It's fine, you don't have to give me anything." He says. "I booked tickets for the zoo tomorrow. There's an ocean part, so Eliza can see some of the sea animals. I thought we could let her adopt one of the penguins."