Fragments of Us

Chapter Five: Friend

Milo awoke to the gentle hum of morning, the sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains of his childhood bedroom. He blinked a few times, allowing himself to soak in the familiar surroundings—a room filled with old posters, books piled high on every surface, and the lingering scent of his mother’s lavender perfume that clung to the air. The memories washed over him, bittersweet and comforting.

The soft sound of laughter floated up from downstairs, breaking through the fog of sleep. He pushed the covers aside and climbed out of bed, the wooden floor cool beneath his feet. As he descended the stairs, he caught snippets of conversation from the kitchen.

   “Lila, could you hand me that spoon?” Richard’s voice called, a hint of laughter beneath his words.

   “Only if you promise to make the best pancakes ever!” Lila replied, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

Milo smiled, feeling a wave of warmth as he entered the kitchen. The sight before him was a picture of domestic bliss—Richard stood at the stove, flipping pancakes, while Lila buzzed around, her energy infectious.

   “Look who’s finally awake!” Lila declared, noticing Milo. “Just in time for the pancake extravaganza!”

   “Pancake extravaganza?” Milo echoed, moving to the table and taking a seat. “Sounds serious.”

Richard chuckled, sliding a plate piled high with fluffy pancakes toward him. “You know your sister. She takes breakfast very seriously.”

Lila beamed, her eyes sparkling. “And I make sure to add extra blueberries, just for you.”

Milo took a bite, savoring the sweet, buttery taste. “This is amazing. You’ve outdone yourself.”

Richard smirked, clearly pleased with the compliment. “It’s all in the secret ingredient,” he said, gesturing dramatically as he poured syrup over his stack.

   “Which is?” Milo asked, raising an eyebrow.

   “Love, of course,” Richard replied with a wink.

Lila rolled her eyes playfully. “Dad, that’s so cheesy!”

The morning continued with laughter and light conversation, the kind that made the worries of the outside world fade away. Milo felt a sense of normalcy return, even if it was fleeting. He was grateful for these moments, where they could be a family again, at least for a while.

After breakfast, Milo cleared the table while Lila grabbed the last of the dishes. Richard remained at the table, sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper, a routine that felt almost comforting in its familiarity.

   “You have any plans today?” Lila asked as she rinsed the dishes.

   “Just going to check in on Dad’s physical therapist later. I want to make sure he’s sticking to his exercises,” Milo replied, glancing at Richard.

   “Good idea,” Richard said, folding the newspaper and setting it aside. “I appreciate you looking out for me, son. I want to make sure I’m up and about soon.”

   “You will be,” Milo assured him, a smile on his face. “Just takes time.”

   “Speaking of time,” Lila interjected, drying her hands. “We should plan a family outing soon! Maybe a trip to the coast? Get some fresh air?”

Richard nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds nice. I could use a change of scenery.”

   “Count me in,” Milo added, feeling a spark of excitement at the thought of escaping the confines of their routine, even if just for a day.