She laughed.“I never thought you’d be one forThe Golden Girls.”
I shrugged.“I blame the ol’ ladies.And my mom.”
“That tracks.”
We settled in together, watching the Chicken Little episode.She commented on Blanche’s outfit.I argued that Sophia was the real MVP.She yawned and tried to hide it.
“You should go to bed,” I said.
“After this episode.”
Fifteen minutes later, her head tipped sideways, coming to rest against my shoulder.
Her breathing evened out.
She was out.
I sat there for a moment, afraid to move, listening to the soft rhythm of her sleep.Then I carefully shifted, sliding one arm under her knees and the other around her back.
She stirred slightly but didn’t wake as I carried her down the hallway and into her room.
I laid her down gently, tugged the blanket up around her shoulders, and brushed her hair back from her face.
She looked peaceful like this.
Safe.
I stood there a moment longer than necessary, then turned out the light and left the door open.
Back on the couch, I settled in and stared at the ceiling.
This wasn’t a hardship.
It wasn’t a job.
It was exactly where I was supposed to be.
And I wasn’t going anywhere.
Chapter Nine
Star
I woke up slow.
Not the jolt of panic I’d gotten used to in the hospital, or the sharp awareness that something hurt.Just… slow.Like my body had finally decided it didn’t need to be on guard for a minute.
It took me a second to remember where I was.
Mom’s house.
I rolled onto my side, stretching carefully.Everything ached in that dull, post-sleep way that reminded me I’d been through something my body hadn’t forgiven yet.Still, it was better than it had been.Better than yesterday.
Better than the day before that.
I pushed myself upright slowly and let my feet find the floor.No dizziness.No spinning.
Another small victory.
