Shady

“What’s not?”

“…What made the hole?” she asked gently.

“Oh.” She shrank a bit more.

“… Can I make it better?” she whispered.

She shrank, folding in on herself. She wanted to run. Her social anxiety was screaming, making it hard to breathe.

“It’s okay. I… understand. I was mean.” She blushed, glancing away. “I don’t blame you.”

“I’ve kept trying to…”

“But that’s when you stopped talking to me,” she pointed out.

(Okay! No rush) She was quiet. “I’m… sorry I yelled at you. I… didn’t mean to make you so sad.” He clearly didn’t want her.

That was good to hear. She nodded again, the motion awkward against his shoulder. Her voice was barely audible when she managed, “…I do.” (Just remembered Anneke never answered her ...

It was more than a single word. This was the longest sentence he’d said to her in weeks. She hesitated then nodded. “If… if you still want to be… I… ...

“It is.” She nodded, leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder. “It… it’s good. And it… well… he didn’t give me life, either. So… so if he can ...

“Yeah.” She nodded, tense despite herself. “He… said he’s happy you adopted me. That he wants me to have a living family to love me now. So… he’s… he’s not ...

She took a deep breath. “I… spoke to my Papa. In my dreams. He visited me.”

“…If you care…” her chest was tight with anxiety. She was bothering him. Should she just leave?