SIERRA'S LEONE

KALOPS

Sierra woke up with a pounding head, a weightless stomach, and aching limbs.

She was late but could not put a turbo on her legs. She staggered to Leone's room; seeing the empty cradle, she went to the living room, where she found the boy fully dressed and ready to go.

"Morning Sierra, I thought I could drop off Leone for you. So you needn't rush."

The man spent his night listening to Sierra's shuffles to the toilet. Jonas wondered why she did not sleep in the cabinet to save herself some steps. Sierra was not in her best shape, and Jonas was surprised to see she could stand.

For once, Sierra had no will to protest, "okay."

"I can pick him up too," Jonas added.

The man did not mind seeming eager or ashamed of taking advantage of Sierra's weakened health.

"Okay."

Jonas found himself suddenly hesitating. The woman's responses disturbed him.

"Sierra, are you okay?"

"I'll get ready, thank you, Jonas."

Leone stared at her with a quizzical expression. Where were the kisses and warmth of Sierra's hugs? The heat of Sierra's bosom seemed like an eternity away.

The little boy attempted to stretch his hands out.

"Sorry, Leone, I can't hold you. I don't want you to be sick."

At this stage, the woman did not know if it was a simple tummy ache or the stomach flu.

"Perhaps you should stay at home. I mean, you aren't well at all."

Jonas, as usual, tried to be polite, while Sierra felt like poop.

"I can't. I can't miss work."

Sierra's obsession with her job was another thing that Jonas found challenging to bear.

The woman rarely unwinded. She let work consume her time. Jonas did not need to search further to understand why her relationship's ship sunk. Leone was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

"I'll let you get prepared. Let's go, Leone."

The baby's eyes remained on the woman who waved him goodbye. Leone closed and opened his hand to mimic the gesture.

Once they were out of her sight, Sierra hurried to the bathroom, showered. For the first time, she was glad to have Jonas's support.

The man was right. She was not in a state to work at all. Sierra dreamt of eating a comforting meal like the ones her dad used to make. She recalled the tasty stews her father would cook when she was ill.

Here she had no one, and she did not see herself calling Jacob. Suddenly the woman felt cloaked by a sense of shame and guilt. She always found herself relying on the men around her.

Jonas only had one part of the equation right by thinking she did not want his help.

The woman wanted to prove she could do anything with minimal assistance. She already hated that Jacob had to cook for Leone, but it was a matter of life or death in that particular case.