( when the stars forget us! ) ↳chapter twenty-three↲
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━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ❝QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA, MI NIÑA. ❞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
EMBRY LEANED CASUALLY against his truck, the early morning sun casting golden streaks across the driveway. He had finished adjusting the last of Talia's bags in the truck bed, the metallic clang echoing faintly in the stillness. His expression was calm, but his watchful eyes flicked to her every few seconds, making sure she was okay.
Talia stood on the porch, her hands trembling as she clutched Nicholas tightly to her chest. Her little brother was crying so hard his words were barely intelligible, his small fists clutching the back of her sweater as though his grip alone could stop her from leaving.
"Don't go, Nat," he sobbed, his voice cracking. "Don't leave me. Please."
Her chest felt like it was being torn in two. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt down, cupping Nicholas's face with shaking hands. "Nick," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't want to leave you either. I love you so much, more than anything."
"Then stay!" he wailed, his tears soaking into her shoulder as he hugged her again.
She pulled him closer, holding him like she could somehow memorize the way he felt in her arms. "I have to go," she choked out. "But I'll call you every day. Every single day, okay? And I'll visit as much as I can. I promise."
Joyce stood nearby, her own tears trailing silently down her cheeks. She hadn't said much yet, her arms folded tightly over her chest as if holding herself together. But when Nicholas finally loosened his grip, she stepped forward, pulling Talia into a firm, trembling hug.
"I'm sorry, mija," Joyce murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I've been so hard on you, and I shouldn't have. I'm just scared. You're my baby, and I don't know how to protect you when you're so far away."
Talia clung to her mother, her tears dampening Joyce's shoulder. "I know, Mom. I know. It's okay."
Joyce pulled back just enough to hold Talia's face in her hands, smoothing her hair like she had when Talia was little. "Que Dios te bendiga, mija," she whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead and giving her the blessing. "Be safe. And don't forget, no matter where you are, we're always here for you."
Talia nodded, unable to speak through the lump in her throat.
Then Daniel stepped forward, his usual stoic demeanor intact, though his eyes betrayed the emotions he was holding back. He didn't say anything at first, simply opening his arms. "Ven aquí, mi niña," he said softly, his deep voice steady but filled with warmth.
