know it's for the better | daniel diaz

chapter one : meet

🎧 : kids - current joys

my mother passes me a box of spaghetti bolognese. "go give that to claire, dear." she speaks, with a smile. i retrieve the box from her hands, clutching it tightly, "okay, mom!" i smile as i place the box on the nearby counter and put on my shoes. "i'll go give it to her now!" i smile again, as i feel my mother's hand in my hair, ruffling it a little. "good, darling. don't be too long." my mother spoke back, and i nod vigorously.

i pick up the box of food, and i open the front door, the cool air hitting my face. i walk down the street, to get to claire's house. when i do, i knock, hoping stephen or claire will answer. instead, an innocent, boy's face, looks back at me. "uhh... hi," he spoke, his voice sounded high-pitched, but he seemed a little bit older. "what are you here for? i've never seen you around." my face flushes a little, and i look around, hoping i got the right door, and i sigh of relief when i see that i have. "oh, my mom just told me to drop this off." i lift up the box of spaghetti bolognese.

the kid opposite me nodded, "well, she isn't in right now. she's out getting food. if you'd like, you can wait for her inside?" he offers, and i nod, pleased and thankful for the offer. "yes, please! it's cold!" i chuckle a bit, as i shiver and the innocent boy opens the door a bit wider, so i can walk in and i place the plastic container on the kitchen counter. a post-it note reading "spaghetti bolognese, from me and layla!" on the clear box in front of me, and i take my shoes off.

"what's your name?" the kid asks, a curious tone in his voice. "i'm layla! who're you?" i look back at him,
as i place my shoes on the shoe rack. "i'm daniel, and i have an older brother, named sean!" daniel smiles, as he leads me into the living room and me and him sit down. "so, how old are you and your brother, daniel?" i look at him, as i ask. "oh! i'm eleven, and sean's old. he's sixteen."

as soon as he says that, i hear someone clearing their throat, that someone must be sean. "i am not old, enano." he rolls his eyes playfully, as he walks into the kitchen and grabs a packet of ready-salted crisps and a glass of water, and he starts eating. "what does that mean? 'enano'?" i perk up, and i look to daniel, and then to sean. "it means little one, or 'little dwarf', who are you anyway?" spoke sean, the eldest of the two. "oh, okay! i'm layla!" i reply, a wide grin on my face. the older one replies, nodding. "i'm sean," he smiles a little at my wide grin. "nice meeting you."

the door handle starts to turn, showing that claire - the brothers' grandmother, and my mother's best friend - has returned from the store. "sean! daniel! i'm home." the elderly's voice cried out. she peers into the living room, seeing me, sean and daniel standing together. "oh, hey sweetie!" she spoke to me as a smile appeared on her face.

"your mom send you here?" she asks and i reply with a vigorous nod. "yep! i left something for you on the countertop in the kitchen!" i smile, as i get up. "but, i need to head home now." i pout, and i put my shoes on, and i see daniel pouting too. "aw, okay!" he spoke, as he walks over and gets the door for me.

"thank you, daniel!" i smile, and i walk out, heading down the street to get home.

"he's so cute." i think to myself.