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Edna comes out at the same time, grabbing Milo and kissing his cheek, “my sweet boy,” she says as he smiles brightly.

Hayzel sees me analyzing this scene, and she whispers, “He’s going to be fine here, stop worrying for a second. He’s happy when he’s here.”

Yes, he is.

“You two are ready?” Edna asks as she holds Milo’s hand.

“We’re all packed up, and the car is just here waiting for us,” I reply as I advance towards them.

Edna’s hand is quickly on my cheek, softly brushing it with tears in her eyes, “Remember what I told you last time in the kitchen, okay? Be careful there and make sure Hayzel isn’t out every night.”

She then kisses my cheek, and I smile, “I will. And thank you for this.”

I then kneel to face my brother's little face. His eyes are sad, his lips are pushed down and my heart is breaking in a million tiny pieces. “Hey, firefly, don’t cry. I’m just a call away from you. Just ask Edna and I’ll be here in the next few minutes, okay?”

He nods but I can see a little tear falling down his cheek. “Pinky promise?”

“Pinky promise,” I reply as we interlock our fingers together.

I brush a few curls away from his face before pulling him closer to hug him tight.

“I love you the most, remember, firefly?”

“And I love you the most too,” he replies softly.

“Oooh, wait, wait.” I hear Edna call out to us, and suddenly she reappears with one of those one-shot cameras.

I press a kiss to Milo's cheek one last time before grumbling. “Nana, please, you know I don't like taking pictures,” I say as Hayzel reappears at my side.

“Nonsense. Say cheese.”

No matter how much I protest, Edna would always find a way to make me comply, so reluctantly I mimic both Milo and Hayzel, forcing myself to smile.

“See you soon, love you!” Hayzel says as Edna takes Milo's hand and I simply smile at them both as I make my way to the car with her.

This is all for Milo. I tell myself as I push the key in the ignition.

All for firefly.

10

Mireya

Play - You Found Me by The Fray

New Beginning

“I think it's just ahead,” Hayzel says, looking down at the map that’s clutched in her hands as we drive up the rocky mountain, rounding the sharp corners.

Everything is immensely high and strange, with the mist fogging up in the distance and the waves crashing against the shore.

“Rey!”

“I heard you, woman,” I reply, shaking my head.

I follow the sign that says Students Parking Bay in dark blue ink.

I don’t know why, but every time something stressful happens, I dissociate. I know it’s stupid, I should be happy, and I am. But this is serious, the whole St. Ellesta training isn’t just a try that I can throw away. It’s… more important than that. And it is stressful.