Aiden rubs my back. “He’s not going to be mad at you, I promise. Now, no talking in corner time unless you feel like you are going to pass out, understand?”
“Okay,” I mumble.
“Good girl. Now, I’m going to be sitting right over here watching you and texting Tobias. I’ll let you know when the time is done,” he says and walks away.
My calves are already starting to ache the longer I stand on my tippy toes. How long am I going to have to stand here for? Am I going to survive standing the whole time or will the time have to restart if I fall?
I push the thought to the back of my mind as I focus on keeping my nose touching the sticky note. I need to stay on my tippy toes so the time doesn’t restart.
I must stay on my tippy toes.
“Time,” he says.
I immediately drop and take a deep breath in.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
I nod.
“All is forgiven now. Let’s put you down for a nap and then you can go back to Tobias,” Aiden says as he leads me to a back room.
“I don’t wanna nap,” I mumble.
“I know you don’t want to, but you need it. You’re falling asleep just standing here,” he points out.
“Don’t wanna sleep without Billie.”
I had never fallen asleep without holding her, and I wasn’t going to start doing it now.
“Don’t wanna,” I slur my words as my eyes start to droop. “I won’t.”
“Will my old stuffed animal work?” Aiden asks.
Gasping, I look at him in horror. “No. It has to be Billie. No one can replace her.”
“Whoa, Mila. I wasn’t saying I was going to replace her,” Aiden says. “I just was wondering if you could sleep without her this once.”
Tears pool in my eyes as I look up at him. “I want Billie.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t cry. I’ll ask Tobias to go grab Billie for you,” he coos. “Why don’t you sit down here while we wait for him.”
Aiden leads me over to the couch and I sit down, my eyes drooping even more. Oh I just want to sleep right here, but I know sleep won’t come until I have Billie in my arms.
“Can you bring Billie over?” Aiden asks. “She won’t take a nap until she has her. Thanks.”
I lean my head back, resting on the couch. “Is she coming?”
“She’s coming. Why don’t you try and fall asleep and before you know it, Billie will be here,” he gently says.
“No.” I push my bottom lip out.
Aiden sighs and kneels down in front of me. “Then what do you want to do until she comes?”
I shrug. “I just want her.”
“Billie is here!” Daddy yells as he walks into the house.
I look at him with tired eyes and hold my hands out. “Daddy. Billie.”
