A Hand To Hold | Cglre |

Chapter 8: True Hurdles

Sophie's POV: 

Amid my sobs, I felt another touch, softer, tracing calming circles on my back — Evelyn's tender gesture of comfort. Her voice, laced with concern and understanding, broke through my turmoil. "Let's just give her a bath," she suggested. "We can move her nighttime routine to now. Maybe the water will help her calm down."

Following her suggestion, Ian carried me to the bathroom, my cries still echoing off the walls. The moment the warm water cascaded over my back, however, a semblance of calm began to seep into my frazzled nerves. My sobs gradually subsided into quiet sniffles under the soothing stream.

Ian's voice was gentle, reassuring. "It's okay, little one. There's nothing to be afraid or embarrassed of. We're here for you," he soothed, his words wrapping around me as he carefully washed me with soap. By the time he finished, my sniffles had diminished, a testament to the calming power of their care.

Then, I was in Evelyn's arms, her embrace enveloping me with warmth and safety. "There is my beautiful baby," she cooed, her voice a soft melody that further eased my distress. Carefully, she carried me out of the bathroom and settled me onto the bed, her presence a steady beacon of comfort.

"Now let's get you changed, little one," she said, her tone full of love and reassurance. As she spoke, the last remnants of my tears dried, and in their stead, a feeling of being cherished and understood filled me. Despite the vulnerability of the moment, in Evelyn and Ian's care, I found a safe harbor, a reminder that no matter the storm of emotions, I was not alone.

As Evelyn sifted through the freshly laundered clothes she had requested earlier, she picked out a diaper and turned to me. Instinctively, I pushed her hands away with my feet and flipped over, attempting to crawl away on my hands and knees.

"Uh uh, little one, no fighting me on this unless you want to use the potty," Evelyn cautioned, capturing me gently and repositioning me. Despite my second attempt to escape, she placed a hand on my belly to prevent me from rolling away. I began to pick at her hands, pleading silently for release.

"Settle down, Sophie," Evelyn's voice was calm yet firm. "As I mentioned before, if you prefer an alternative to the diaper, you just have to tell me. But if there's no issue, I'll see this as misbehavior." However, my defiance persisted until she tenderly held my hands, stopping my squirming.

"Sophie, we haven't established any rules or talked about punishments, and that's why I won't be too harsh, given you might not fully grasp what is considered wrong. But in our family, we don't tolerate misbehavior. We should always talk about our feelings and not resort to hitting, okay?" Her tone was gentle but carried a seriousness that made me pause, suddenly fearful I had overstepped.

In my jumble of emotions and confusion, I recognized I had been acting out. The earlier incident had shown I couldn't indefinitely avoid making a bathroom decision. Disliking both the potty and the intimidating toilet, the diaper seemed my only option.

Resigning to my choice, I nodded at Evelyn, signaling my compliance, and quietly asked, "I in trouble?" Her response was a kind smile. "You're not in trouble, little one. We can discuss rules later with Ian if you're up for it. If not, we can wait. We don't want to overwhelm you."