In the stars. | A collection of short stories: B.E

Stimming.

A/n: I have made the decision after an hour of fighting with myself to split this 17763-word chapter into a two-parter. Anyways in this chapter, Octavia is struggling with her ADHD as normal however this time Billie and Octavia are married and have a 5-year-old daughter named Bell. (The first name I could think of don't sue me lol, I wanted to write this chapter fast.)

P.S: I cried so many times writing this- it was too cute to handle.

★Omniscient★

It was a calm evening, and Octavia was in charge of putting Bell to bed, a task she cherished dearly. She had just finished reading Bell's favourite bedtime story, tucking her in, and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. But then, something unusual happened. Octavia's normally vibrant eyes lost their focus, and she seemed to drift away into a distant place.

Bell, being a perceptive 5-year-old, noticed the sudden change in her mommy. She tried to get Octavia's attention, gently shaking her. "Mommy?" she said softly, but Octavia didn't respond. Bell's concern grew, and she called out louder, "Mommy?"

Billie was in the living room, going over some emails that her manager had sent when she heard Bell's distressed voice. She rushed into Bell's room to find her daughter shaking Octavia, who remained unresponsive, her gaze fixed on some invisible point in the distance.

Panic welled up inside Bell as tears welled in her eyes. She was just a child, and this was something she had never experienced before. "Momma!" she cried out, her small voice filled with fear and confusion.

Billie's heart raced as she recognized what was happening. Octavia was dissociating, a challenge they had dealt with together for years. Instead of urging Octavia to snap out of it, Billie knew that Bell needed reassurance and understanding.

Kneeling down beside her daughter, Billie gently pulled Bell into her arms, hugging her tightly. She spoke to Bell in a soothing tone, as though explaining a complex idea to a baby, wanting to make it as simple and understandable as possible. "Hey there, sweetheart, it's okay. Mommy is just having a little moment where she feels a bit far away. She's still here with us, but sometimes her thoughts take her to a different place for a little while. It's not your fault, and she'll be back soon."

Bell blinked back her tears, looking up at her momma with wide, worried eyes. "But Mommy's not talking to me," she sniffled.

Billie nodded gently, wiping away Bell's tears. "I know, baby, and that can be scary. But remember, Mommy loves you very much, and she didn't mean to do this. It's something that happens to her sometimes, and it's not because of anything you did. We'll wait together until she comes back, okay?"

Bell nodded, still clinging to her momma. Billie continued to hold her daughter close, whispering words of comfort and love, ensuring that Bell felt safe and secure despite the strange and unsettling situation.

As the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity, Octavia remained lost in her dissociation, her eyes still distant and unfocused. Billie's initial concern had evolved into a gnawing worry, her heart heavy with the fear of what this prolonged dissociation might mean.

Bell, snuggled tightly in Billie's arms, was beginning to tire from the emotional rollercoaster of the evening. Her tiny body gradually relaxed as sleepiness washed over her, but she still clung to her momma, seeking comfort and security amidst the uncertainty.

Billie knew that she had to stay strong for both her daughter and Octavia. She gently rocked Bell, whispering soothing lullabies in her ear, trying to create a sense of calm despite the anxiety that had taken hold of her. "It's okay, my little angel," she murmured, her voice a tender caress. "Mommy will be back soon, and everything will be alright. Close your eyes, my love."