210

JADE

Ray met me by the door when I came in. She wrapped her arms around me as soon as she could, and only when I heard the soft sniffle did it click in my head that she was crying. I tightened my own arms around her and became the one comforting her.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m fine.” I didn’t mean for my voice to break but it did toward the end. She shook her head when I planned to move back a little so I just relented and held her a little longer.

Sometimes I forget how really young she s because she acts so wise and beyond her age most of the time. It shines through though, at times. And today is one of those time. So, I hold her a little longer and tell her that everything is going to be fine. Even if I don’t believe it deep down myself.

We settle into the couch with her beside me and Aiden on the other side. He didn’t say anything to me besides a nod of acknowledgement. But you could tell how worried he was from his eyes. They were so expressive.

He is so different now than the first tim