“Selene?” Semca asked, curled up against her big sister’s side. “What are mommy and daddy fighting about?”
Semca felt Selene tense for a moment and then relax, putting an arm around her little sister and drawing her closer. Semca sighed in contentment as she felt her sister’s warmth, ignoring the muffled sound of angry shouts and glasses breaking.
“Please, Semca, don’t listen to them,” Selene said, her voice like a smooth lullaby to Semca’s ears. “Just listen to me, Semca; you only need to listen to me.”
Semca smiled as she felt her big sister lightly run her fingers through her blonde hair. Her big sister was so cool and kind…she was more like her mother than anything else.
Semca lifted her face from Selene’s shoulder and looked up at her sister’s face. There was barely any light in their room, only a sliver of light that came in through the crack under the door, but she saw that Selene’s face was contorted with pain and looked like she was near tears.
Semca tilted her head curiously to the side. “Selene, are you alright?” she asked in a completely innocent manner.
Selene jumped in surprise, not expecting her sister to speak; she thought she had fallen asleep. “Wh-what?” Selene asked.
“You look like you’re in pain,” Semca said. “Do you have a boo-boo anywhere?”
Selene opened her mouth to say something—or maybe it just fell open in shock—but either way, she couldn’t get any words out past the lump in her throat; the tears in her eyes started to sting and her vision became blurry. She silently nodded her head. “Yeah, Semca, I think so…”
Semca’s face became distraught. “Don’t be sad! Ryan and I don’t like it when you’re sad; we love to see you when you’re happy and smiling. Like this!” She flashed Selene a cheesy smile as an example.
Selene let out a watery chuckle. “Yeah; I’m sorry, Semca.”
“Ryan and I are both happy as long as we have you, Selene,” Semca continued. “We don’t need mommy and daddy. You are our mommy and daddy!”
Selene’s eyes sparkled with wonder and happiness—or perhaps that was just the glitter of tears. “Yes, that’s right, and I will never hurt you like mommy and daddy hurt you.”
Semca’s smile brightened as she hugged her sister tightly. But the hug was quickly cut off when the sisters heard both of their parents shout at once, “Selene!”
Selene sighed tiredly and rose to her feet. Semca began to panic; she didn’t want Selene to go! She always cried when she comes back after being called for by mommy and daddy! Semca quickly latched onto Selene’s arm like a leech, as if that would prevent her from going.
“Please, don’t go!” Semca cried desperately. “I don’t want you to be sad again.” Tears started to well up in Semca’s eyes as well; they brimmed over and rolled down her cheeks in streams.
Selene gently pried her sister off of her and put both of her hands on either one of her shoulders. She reached out one hand and wiped the tears from her sister’s cheeks. “Please, don’t cry, Semca. Continue to smile; you’re smile makes me smile. As long as you’re happy, I don’t care what happens to me.” She pressed a small kiss to Semca’s forehead. “Now, why don’t you go to bed?”
“You know I can’t sleep without you,” Semca argued.
“I’ll be there in a minute, okay?” Selene reasoned.
