Broken Descent (Bruno Mars)

Big World

"Daddy where are we going? Where's my party?" Charlotte asked, looking up at him.

"Be patient, Charlotte. I promise you're gonna love it."

When they got out of the car, they stood in a large parking lot. Charlotte watched nervously as people swarmed back and forth on the aisles.

"Daddy..." she whimpered, squeezing his hand very tight. She hadn't been out in public in several months. Since Disneyland, she'd only been to different houses. She didn't even want to go to the grocery store.

"No, no, peanut. Listen," he said, crouching down in front of her. "No one else is going to be here, just our family, okay?"

Charlotte looked nervously over at her aunts and uncles and cousins getting out of their cars.

Bruno tilted her head back to him, refocusing her. "Everyone else is going home. We have the whole place to ourselves."

Charlotte nodded and they all walked into the large building. Bruno checked in with the manager of the building. Charlotte and all the kids looked up at just the height of the ceiling. They were all still very confused as to where they were.

"Alright guys," Bruno said, holding Charlotte's hand. He stood in front of the group, leading them into the main part of the building.

Charlotte looked up at the ceiling with her jaw dropped. Looking down at her, Bruno couldn't have been more happy to see her smiling face.

"Do you like it, sweetheart?" He asked.

Charlotte didn't even respond. She was absolutely awestruck by the many large fish and animals swimming above and beside her.

"Char?"

"Whoa..." she said quietly as the rest of the kids ran throughout the main artery of the aquarium.

Bruno watched her as she let go of his hand to get closer to the wall. Her fingers and forehead pressed hard against the glass.

"You hit a home run man," Phil said beside him.

"Yeah..."

"She's really growing up."

"Yeah I guess..."

"You guess? Bruno she's sweet...she's respectful...bright...what are you talking about?"

"Lately..she's just been...really reserved...and shy. I thought she'd be over that once her nightmares stopped."

Phil pouted.

"Now..." Bruno said even quieter. "She...she started wetting the bed again."

"Aww....well she'll just need to take her time...you know? She went through a lot, Bruno...and it might take a while...it might take years for her to feel normal...and if a little shy and reserved is normal for her...then ya gotta love her for that."

Bruno grinned. "You know I do. I just worry about her. It's a big world out there," he said, looking through the glass. "I just want her to be ready for it."

Bruno stared up at the part of the aquarium above him, when he felt tugging on his hand.

"Daddy?" She asked weakly. Some of her spirit had disappeared.

Bruno pulled her privately to the side and knelt in front of her as she sat down on a bench. She held both of his hands tight, looking as of she was about to cry.

"What's wrong?"

Charlotte looked at all angles around them, finishing her gaze on Bruno. "Are you...are you sure...that...that no one else is here?"