I wake up from sleep when I hear Daddy talking with Mama. “I told you his condition will affect her,” he says.
I feel Mama’s kiss on my hand. “Zo needs us, Alexander.”
“I know, Muse, but I can’t see her crying every day. Can we send him to Stan’s hospital until his condition stabilises?”
Mama stays silent. Daddy moves from my side. I keep my eyes shut. I need to hear them. I can’t let them send Zoan away.
“Don’t be sad, baby. Stan will take good care of him.”
“But it’s still a hospital. Who is going to give him the love of a family? And didn’t Stan say himself that his recovery is faster here?”
Daddy speaks after a long pause.
“But it’s affecting Avi. It’s been six months, and we don’t know how many more it will take. She is too young to cry over someone’s pain. Do you even remember when was the last time we tucked her in with a smile on her face?”
I hear Mama sob. I don’t like it. I will never cry again.
“What do I do, Alexander? I don’t have the heart to watch her like this, nor the strength to send Zloban away.”
“Shhh. Okay, fine. We will find a way. Now stop crying.”
They get up from my bed. After kissing me, they walk out of my room. They will now go to Zoan’s room to tuck him in.
I get up from my bed and walk toward the door. I press my ear to it and wait for the sound of it closing.
It closes once near me, and then a second time far from me. I count to ten, then open the door, go out, and close it behind me.
I walk silently toward the room beside mine and enter, pushing open the unlocked door.
Zoan is not in his bed. He always leaves it once Mama and Daddy go to their room. He doesn’t like sleeping on beds.
I walk around and spot him. He is lying in the corner on the floor. I lay down beside him on a pillow. He doesn’t like pillows either, but I made him promise to use one in return for not telling Mama about him stealing food.
He opens his eyes. I shift closer to him and hug him. Even though he never hugs me back, I still love holding him.
“Mama and Daddy told me you are fighting with monsters that only you can see. Are the monsters ugly?”
I move away a little to see his answer. He doesn’t like speaking.
He nods his head.
“Are they powerful like space monsters?”
He shakes his head.
“I want to see them. Can I see them?”
He shakes his head again.
“Why?”
“She’s dead.”
“Is she a ghost?” I ask in fear. I’ve seen bad ghosts on TV who kill people. I don’t want anyone to kill Zoan.
He shakes his head.
“Then how is the monster hurting you if she is dead?”
