February 29, 2044
Santa Monica, California
| Third Person Omniscient |
Karina lied in bed. Staring at the ceiling trying to see if those were really faces or if she was just sleep deprived. Slowly turning her head to Chris's side of the bed, she saw Nilan in fetal position as she slept. She turned back to the ceiling and sighed.
"I hope Chris is okay." Karina said to herself quietly. This was her routine since Chris had been gone. Every hour of the day she thought about Chris and how he was doing, wondering if he was okay.
Karina slowly got out of bed and walked into her and Chris's bathroom, turning on the light. She took a short glance into the mirror, looked away, but quickly turned back. She stood and stared at her exhausted and drained appearance. Karina hadn't been sleeping since the day Chris left. She had spent plenty of nights without Chris but this was different. Karina lied awake all night with her mind racing, wondering if Chris was okay at Ocean Hill. Wondering if she could call and talk to him, just check in on him. Wondering if even hated her for sending him so far away.
Karina used the restroom and got into the shower. As the water hit her exhausted body, she thought back to last night and how Nilan ended up in her bed.
"When you plan on talking with them?" Sage asked.
"Soon...I just haven't had much to say and neither have they. Ever has been in his room for days, I don't remember the last time I heard his door open. Z has been in and out the house...not sure where he's running off to and Nilan-" Karina turned around at the sound of her bedroom door opening.
"Rina?" Sage asked.
"Hold on Sage." Karina looked at a crying Nilan and sighed. "I'll call you later. I love you."
"Love you too." Sage hung up the phone and Karina put her phone down.
"Come here baby." Karina said and Nilan walked in, immediately hugging her mom tight as tears fell. "It's gonna be okay, NiNi." Karina rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head as Nilan continued to cry.
It was late. Maybe around 12 am and Karina could see that no one was doing much sleeping these past few days.
"You wanna sleep in here with me?" Karina asked and Nilan nodded her head, not giving a verbal response. "Okay, come on let's lay down."
Karina washed her body and got out of the shower, putting on the robe the kids got her recently. As she did her morning routine, there was a knock at the bathroom door.
"Ma? Can I come in?" She heard a soft voice say.
"Yes." The door opened and Nilan walked in quickly going to the toliet. "Don't you have your own bathroom?" Karina asked.
"It's too early ma." Nilan said rubbing her eyes. Karina shook her head and finished her morning routine before leaving the bathroom and getting dressed.
"I guess i'll cook breakfast." Karina said to herself as she walked downstairs and into the kitchen. As she cooked, she thought about Chris and got sad all over again. Karina winced and rubbed her chest at the sharp pain. "I need some water." Karina grabbed a bottle of water and sipped it, continuing to cook. Once she was done, she went upstairs and knocked on Zaire's door.
