Abandoned

26

The soft rustle of the pages turned as Zareya read aloud from the old storybook, her voice calm and melodic. Sienna sat beside her on the bed, legs tucked under the covers, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the pages. The room was dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

Zareya paused, glancing over at Sienna with a smile. "Are you ready for the next part?" she asked, her voice playful.

Sienna's eyes flickered up from the book, her gaze meeting Zareya's. Her lips twitched upward, just a little, enough to make Zareya grin. Sienna's smile was like a spark, brief but bright.

Zareya raised an eyebrow. "You want me to read more, or are you going to make me guess what happens next?"

Sienna tilted her head slightly, considering. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible motion, she pointed at the book with her finger, silently urging Zareya to continue.

"Ah, I see how it is," Zareya teased, turning the page. "You're just making me do all the work, huh?"

Sienna let out a soft, unspoken giggle, her eyes lighting up with amusement. It wasn't much—just the smallest movement, a fleeting sparkle—but Zareya felt it deep in her chest. The quiet joy in Sienna's eyes was enough to warm the room more than any light could.

"Okay, okay," Zareya continued, raising her voice in dramatic mock protest. "But only because you asked so sweetly." She read the next line aloud, adopting a silly voice for one of the characters, and Sienna's face brightened even more.

A few moments passed, and Zareya glanced at Sienna, noticing her gaze had wandered to the small stuffed bear sitting on the nightstand.

"Oh, you want to play with Mr. Bear, too, huh?" Zareya asked, a teasing lilt in her voice. She reached for the stuffed bear, holding it up dramatically. "I think he's feeling a little lonely over there. Shall we introduce him to the adventure?"

Sienna's face lit up, her lips curving into a soft smile as she reached for the bear. She took it gently in her hands, hugging it to her chest as if she were cradling a secret. There was something so pure, so quiet in the way she interacted with the bear, as if the world outside this little room could be forgotten for a while.

"Alright, Mr. Bear," Zareya said in a silly voice, "It's your turn! You're going on a grand adventure with our heroine, Princess Sienna!" She raised the bear high, imitating a royal proclamation. "Will you save the kingdom, Mr. Bear? Or will you just nap under the trees?"

Sienna chuckled quietly, her fingers brushing the bear's soft ears as if the stuffed animal really did hold some magic. She nestled it beside her, looking up at Zareya, the sparkle in her eyes more telling than words ever could be.

Zareya leaned in, brushing a lock of Sienna's hair from her face, her voice soft and tender. "You're the best, you know that?"

Sienna's smile deepened, and she leaned her head lightly against Zareya's shoulder, her silent way of saying, I know.

Zareya laughed softly, her heart swelling. "I think I've got the best adventure partner in the world."

The two of them sat together in the quiet of the room, the world outside seeming to fade away as they shared a small, perfect moment. Sienna's laughter echoed like a quiet song, and Zareya's heart swelled with gratitude for the simple joy they found in each other's company.

**************************************************

The hospital room had become familiar now—its soft beeping machines, the faint scent of antiseptic, and the quiet rhythms of the day. Sienna sat curled up on the bed, her worn stuffed elephant tucked safely under one arm, the new soft bunny nestled beside it. Her thumb rested gently between the elephant's legs, the way it always did when she was trying to stay calm. The two comfort items were her anchor, her world in a place that still felt unpredictable.

Zareya was tidying up a small pile of clothes and toys by the chair, her movements gentle and distracted. She reached out to fold the soft blanket Sienna had used earlier, and as she did, she picked up the bunny and the elephant to move them to the shelf for a moment—just out of the way, not thinking much of it.

Sienna's eyes shot up the moment the bunny left her side.

Her whole body stiffened.

Then she saw the elephant being lifted, and her breath caught. Something primal kicked in—sudden, sharp, and loud in her chest.

She shrieked, the cry ripping from her throat as she scrambled to her knees, arms stretched out in desperation.

Zareya turned quickly, startled. "Sienna, it's okay, honey—just moving them to—"

But it was too late. Panic had already taken root.

Sienna's hands flailed, her breathing turning erratic, chest rising and falling in sharp bursts. Her face crumpled as the tears came fast and hard, and she lunged forward, grabbing at the edge of the blanket, trying to reach her things.

Zareya immediately dropped to her knees beside the bed, the bunny and elephant still in her hands. "Sweetheart, I wasn't taking them. I promise, I promise. They're yours. See? I have them right here."

But Sienna couldn't hear her over the roar of panic in her mind.

Her whole body shook, and she began rocking back and forth, hands pulling at her shirt. She wasn't just crying—she was spiraling, her sense of safety crumbling in seconds.

Zareya placed the elephant back in her lap with gentle urgency, then followed with the bunny. "Here, sweet girl. They didn't go far. They were never leaving you. I would never take them."

The moment the elephant touched her lap, Sienna snatched it up, clutching it against her chest, sobbing into the worn fabric. Her thumb went right back to its usual place, trembling as it moved. She squeezed the bunny under her arm, needing both.

Zareya sat down on the floor beside her, leaning gently against the bed. "I'm so sorry, Sienna. I should've told you. I wasn't thinking. They're yours. Always. You're safe."

It took time for the sobs to slow, for Sienna's breathing to ease from frantic gasps to shaky inhales. But the comfort of her beloved elephant, the soft press of the bunny against her skin, began to ground her again. Her body gradually stilled.

Zareya waited quietly, her hand resting near Sienna's but not touching—offering presence without pressure.

Eventually, Sienna peeked over the top of her elephant, her red-rimmed eyes locking onto Zareya's face.

"I promise," Zareya whispered, "no one will take them away from you."

Sienna didn't say anything. But she blinked, slowly. And this time, she didn't pull away when Zareya reached up and gently brushed a tear from her cheek.

Not again—not for a long while—but in that quiet space, trust was still holding.

Even through panic, Sienna had learned one thing: Zareya would always bring her back.