Chapter 23
Mireya
Play - Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
Melody’s pulse
I make my way downstairs and Milo’s little laugh reaches me before I see him. I stop in the doorway of the living room, leaning against the frame as he sits curled into the corner of the couch, one arm wrapped around a cushion, while his cartoon plays in front of him.
My body freezes for a second.
When did he get so big?
His hair brushes his ears now, it’s longer than I remember and his legs are stretching further across the couch that they used to. It’s ridiculous how fast he’s growing up on me.
Okay, I'm probably exaggerating a little on the height part and maybe the hair too.
A smile pulls at my lips before I can stop it.
I stay there a little longer, memorizing the sight of him, then finally push away from the door, heading toward the front entrance.
My keys are waiting on the hook, where I left them.
“Firefly?” Milo peers over at me as I dangle my keys. “Are you down for an ice cream?”
His eyes go round, sparkling with excitement as he replies, “Can I get extra sprinkles on mine?”
“Whatever you want, bug.”
He scrambles off the couch, grabbing his coat. “Yes…!” He yells loudly.
I shake my own head before grabbing a light jacket and reach down to zip up Milo's as he stands in front of me hopping up and down.
“Are you ready to go with your favorite sister ever?”
“You’re my only sister silly!” He tells me as the house goes dark.
I smile at him before opening the front door. “Yeah but I’m still your favorite.”
The wind ruffles through his unruly curls as he bolts towards the passenger side of the car. I chuckle to myself before pushing the key into the ignition.
“Can we put on a song, Reya.”
I reverse out of the driveway before glancing at him briefly, “Sure bug.”
Milo reaches down and grabs our cd album; he removes one from its plastic sleeve and places it at the mouth of the player, watching it swallow the notes.
The car fills with the melody of the song and I drum my fingers to the beat as Milo shouts out some of the lyrics, rocking his head side to side.
We stayed like that for the last fifteen minutes of the journey to Heath’s coffee shop that’s also transforming to an ice cream shop at night.
I park, and before I’ve even killed the engine, Milo’s out of the car, racing toward our favorite table. I shake my head, laughing to myself as I join the line. His legs dangle off the chair, swinging impatiently while he waits.
“You want the usual bug?”
He nods his head as I glance back at Heath who’s already smiling. “Look at that, my ex-employee.”
“Missed me? It’s only been a week, Heath,” I reply, taking some cash out to pay.
“Hayzel sent me two young insufferable students to work here, and I do miss your insane need to clean everything.”
I turn around and see the new workers, overwhelmed with everything they have to do. It makes me laugh because all I could see was young Hayzel and I when we started working here years ago.
“They just started, give them some time. I used to break so many glasses when I started.”
He laughs and sighs, “Yeah… Milo is here? Do you want the usual?”
“Yep, a vanilla cup and a chocolate one please, both with extra sprinkles.”
“It's on the house!” He says as he goes to make them.
“That’s good with me,” I reply, looking back at my little brother who’s nodding his head to the music rhythm.
Heath returns with the cups and I thank him before making my way back over.
“I love this ice cream, it’s so much better than when aunty Hayzel does it!” Milo says excitedly and I reach over to lightly tug one of his curls.
“Right? me too,” I smile as I pull back my hand before tucking into my own cup.
It feels good to see him happy. Like everything I went through is worth it as long as I can keep his innocence safe and his spirit free from everything that could bother him.
He tells me about Edna and how she takes great care of him, helps him with his homework and in return he tries to take care of her by taking out the trash, helping with the dishes. I feel like I should pat myself on the back for raising a respectful and loving child.
By the time we finish up here, it's now dark outside. I finish wiping the sticky residue from my fingers with a paper napkin as I unlock the car.
“Pizza for dinner?” I ask, peering over the roof of the car, looking at him.
“Perfect, sissy,” he shrieks and we both get into the car.
We stopped by Tony’s on the way home. By the time we get back, the boxes are still warm in my hands. I balance them against my hip as I unlock the front door.
Of course, Milo darts inside without turning on a single light. I sigh, shut the door behind us and trail my hand along the wall until I find the light switch.
“Wash your hands first,” I yell towards him as he quickly removes his coat and shoes and puts them away.
He always lines his shoes up beside mine.
Dad likes everything in its place.
I don’t know if it’s habit or fear anymore, but I silently thank whatever entity out there, that my little brother notices the little things.
I set the pizza boxes and keys on the dining table, slipping off my jacket and shoes, placing them next to Milo's things.
He kneels on the dining chair, stretching across the table to get his pizza and I watch him quietly. “Sissy, can I have a slice of yours?”
I laugh, sitting down next to him. “Of course you can.” I remove a slice from my side, placing it over to his side. “Here baby,”
“This is…” Milo says in between bites. “So good!”
I hide my smile behind my pizza as we tuck into our meal.
Blue has claimed the chair beside me. I reach over and brush my fingers along his head, and he immediately melts into my touch.
He’s been good at knowing when I need him.
For a while, the world feels quieter. We laugh over nothing, argue about the last slice and I forget about the itch that has followed me all week.
Later, I’m in his bedroom, getting everything ready for bedtime. Our routine mixed a very excited cat.
I fluff Milo’s pillows, tucking the corners of his duvet beneath the mattress as he plays with Blue.
I’m exhausted but I want him to have this. His sister taking care of him, nothing changing when we see each other again.
After a few minutes, Milo throws himself onto the bed, laughing as the mattress sends him bouncing back up. Blue appears at my feet just after, flopping onto his back, with his paws stretched toward the ceiling. His fur is slightly messy, his eyes half-lidded, he looks tired and spent.
“Alright demon, calm down now.” I tease Milo as I tuck him into his bed, giving him his favorite plushy to hold. A little smiling star I had when I was a kid.
“Tomorrow, dad is coming back…” I tell him and I almost wince as I watch his shoulders grow tight. “We’ll try to stay out of his way, okay? Remember, what happens during the week is our secret.”
He nods, and I lean down to kiss his cheek, closing my eyes for a few seconds.
“I love you.” I whisper to him as I tip toe out of it, closing his door gently behind me as I make my way into my own room.
Blue follows me, and sits down on my bed, grooming himself and looking up at me.
I sit on the edge of the mattress, staring at the space beside me.
Tomorrow is waiting.
Blue’s purring next to my head and it is calming, so I focus on everything. I count each breath, each heartbeat of mine, each second passing.
My legs carry me to my desk before I’ve even decided to move. I pull a square of paper from the drawer, smooth it flat beneath my palm and grab a pen.
Happy.
I fold the paper slowly, following the creases until the star begins to take shape. By the time I’m done, the word has disappeared inside it.
I push my window open, the cold air brushing my skin, and for a second I hold the star between my fingers. Then I let it go, the wind catching it, carrying it farther away. I watch until it becomes impossible to tell where the paper ends and the stars begin.
“Carry it to her, she’s still waiting at the edge of the cliff,” I whisper to no one. “She needs to know I’m still hoping, I’m still making wishes for her.”