Enchanted

26

Adonis

That first week was the best week of my entire life. Every second I spent with Rosalina and Holly was even better than the last. For the first time in years, I knew what it felt like to wake up with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.

Despite suggesting it every time I got a chance, I never got around to taking them to that fancy restaurant. It didn't feel as important anymore, I guess. Maybe a part of me had wanted to give them a taste of the lavish lifestyle, maybe even be the one to spoil them rotten. I knew Holly would love it and maybe Rosalina would too but I no longer felt the need to impress them. Turns out there were other experiences that the sisters enjoyed - things I'd never experienced either. Like ordering pizza and spending all night watching the worst rated movies, with Rosalina in my arms and Holly criticizing every character on screen. Like trying to learn how to make pancakes while Rosalina scolded me and Holly recorded the whole thing with a huge smile on her face.

The tiny things like going for walks with Holly while Rosalina slept the days away; listening to the little girl sing while Rose and I pretended to be singing show judges.

Going to an expensive restaurant and slowly nibbling on tiny portions of overpriced foods suddenly felt stupid when I could gobble up as much food as I wanted in order to annoy little Ms Perfect Holly.

"You know, I really do think we should get Holly into that show." Rosalina told me as she filled up the sink.

This was the first time we were completely alone all day as Holly had gone up to bed. She was still tired from the previous night's Barbie marathon.

"The show that Sowad texted us about?" I asked for confirmation even though I knew that was what she was talking about.

"Exactly," she replied, sinking her hands into the warm, bubbly water.

I frowned. "I thought you didn't want her to do it. You said as much when he suggested it."

"I know I did. But that was because I don't want her to stress over it and end up hating the entire experience. Singing on the beach in front of goodness knows how many people will trigger her anxiety like crazy." Rose told me, handing me a soapy plate.

I dunked the plate into my sink of clean water, considering what she was saying. "Then what made you change your mind?"

"Well first of all, remember last week when she sang for Sowad just so he could do it too? She wasn't nervous at all and afterward, she didn't show off despite us making a big deal out of it. These past few days, she just belts out these crazy notes for fun. Singing isn't just something she's good at. It's like it's always been there but no one saw it. Unlike her brain: as soon as I noticed, I sent her to this school that tells her her grades determine her worth."

I nodded, rinsing the tumbler she handed me. "You've got a point. But won't entering the competition make singing just another trigger? It's fun for her now because there's no pressure or expectations associated with it."

"Maybe, maybe not. But I think she should do it. I think it will be fun for her and since she loves singing so much, she'll probably want to destroy her competition anyway. This might just be what she needs to give her some real self-confidence."

I glanced at her as she continued, talking about how maybe singing could give Holly a hobby that didn't involve facts; facts that usually scared her when she didn't have them. I heard every word that came out of her mouth but I was staring too: watching the way she spoke. Her hair was pulled back into something resembling a deformed bun but most of it had escaped - the dark brown strands kept clinging to her cheeks, annoying her as she tried to wash the dishes. Every few seconds, she used the back of her hand and wrist to push her hair out of her face but that only made it wet and cling harder to her skin. Her forehead descended into a frown as she concentrated on washing up but it was obvious that her hair was distracting her.