after the death of her mother, leighton's father sends her to a boarding school halfway across the world to be taught a lesson. she knows no one and no one knows her.
but the cherry on top is who her roommate is.
#2 in ptsdawareness
#2 in anxiety
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As soon as I settle onto the couch with Chloe draped across my lap, I feel like a circus performer balancing on a tightrope. I adjust the tiara perched on my head, trying to embrace the role of the Fairy King as best I can. "Oh, brave knight!" I proclaim, putting on my most regal voice. "You must defeat the dragon!"
Alex, crawling around with a knight's helmet too large for his head, looks up at me, wide-eyed. The helmet slips over his eyes, making him tumble forward slightly. I stifle a laugh, keeping the fairy vibe alive. "You got this, kid. Show that dragon who's boss!"
Chloe squeals with delight, waving her toy wand like she's conducting an orchestra. The living room is a whirlwind of imagination and chaos, with toys scattered everywhere and the scent of popcorn wafting through the air. It's a typical afternoon at Leighton and Kai's, but it's also a lot of fun.
"Can you make the blanket monster disappear?" Chloe asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Absolutely! But first, I need your magic wand to help," I reply, playing along. She hands me her wand, and I wave it over the couch dramatically. "Abracadabra! Blanket, begone!"
Chloe giggles, and I toss the blanket aside with an exaggerated flourish, pretending to chase it away as if it's a real dragon. Alex, still dragging his plastic sword behind him, looks up at me with sheer admiration. "Uncle Eli, can you teach me how to be magic like you?"
My heart swells at his innocent question. "Of course! Magic takes practice. First, you have to believe in it," I say, adopting a mock-serious tone. "Can you do that?"
He nods vigorously, determination shining in his eyes. "Yeah!"
"Good! Now, let's see you slay that dragon!" I point dramatically toward the couch, where the blanket lies crumpled up like a menacing beast. Alex jumps to his feet, brandishing his plastic sword with newfound confidence.
"Take that!" he yells, swinging the sword at the blanket. The sound of his battle cries fills the room, and I can't help but laugh. Chloe joins in, waving her wand and chanting some nonsensical spell that makes absolutely no sense but feels entirely appropriate for the moment.
After a few minutes of mock combat, the blanket is declared vanquished, and the kids cheer like they've just won a grand battle. Chloe takes a bow, and Alex follows suit, both of them giggling uncontrollably.
"Alright, brave knight and fairy queen," I say, my voice taking on a slightly more serious tone. "What shall we do next?"
Chloe ponders this for a moment, tapping her chin. "Can we have a tea party? It's very important!"
"Of course! Every fairy queen deserves a proper tea party," I reply, trying to keep a straight face. We gather the toy teacups and the little plates of plastic food scattered around. Chloe instructs Alex to help her set the table on the floor, and soon enough, we've transformed the living room into a magical dining area.
