Is Grieving making you sick?

"What are you going to eat then?" Ashley asked. Katie stared at the biscuits with a frown, she was thinking.

"Nothing," she said, indicating with her hands. Ashley smiles at her cuteness.

"Let mama and Katie eat this one…while grandma has the other one" Ashley proposes and she accepts. They both ate the biscuits happily.

Downstairs, Katie walks to Ivanna's side, being careful not to make a sound.

"Why are you walking like that?" Ivanna asks. Little Katie froze, before moving further.

"Mama said you are not feeling well, that's why I am walking like that…don't want to make noise" She explains innocently.

Ivanna just stares at her without a word.

"I am sorry for making you angry grandma" she apologized with teary eyes. Ivanna waves her hands, a smile spread on Katie's lips.

"Grandma…" She called again but Ivanna was done with her calling over and over.

"What's with grandma, grandma? Don't you know I need rest? Give me some space" She yells angrily. Katie shivers, blinking at her with tears threatening to fall.

"Sorry… I just wanted to give you this" she stretched out her tiny hands, giving her the biscuits. Ivanna stares at her, confused. She should be sad and scared, not giving her biscuits. She just didn't know what to do and without a choice, she collected it.

"Is grief making you sick?" She asked. Guess she didn't forget the question. How smart.

"Yes," Ivanna answers with a low tone for the first time.

"Sorry grandma" she apologized as if being at fault. Ivanna flashes her a quick smile.

"I will go help mama out in the kitchen, call me if you need me" she spoke so boldly as if she was capable of handling things on her own. Her words made Ivanna smile for the first time since the news about Andriys' death. She watches her run off.

"Katie is here to help you, mama" she climbs and sits on the chair beside the table.

"Can baby help mama peel this open?" Ashley hands her three-season cubes. She starts pulling it off. Her tiny hands only made things difficult for her but she was willing to help her mom out.

Twitching her mouth to the side, she puts on a serious face, all focused. Ashley smiles, seeing her is the only thing she will ever need by her side.

It didn't take long, the food was ready. Ashley serves the food in the dining room. Little Katie came dragging Ivanna, who didn't resist and just followed her behind.

Jolly came afterwards. Dinner was calm and quiet. Katie sat in between Ivanna and Ashley.

"It's delicious, mama," she compliments.

"You like it?" Ashley asks and she nods. Ivanna picks on her chicken legs and places them on Katie's plate. Katie's eyes are wide in shock. It is not her fault, Ivanna has never given her something, and watching her today was a big shock to everyone, not only Katie.

"Go on, eat" she urges. Katie nods happily.

"Thanks, grandma" she bites on the chicken, making a yummy sound.

Jolly stares at her mom, confused about her sudden change. Has she been bewitched by this little witch? She thought confusedly. There was just no answer or explanation to it.

After the meal, Katie helps her mom in washing the dishes and clean the kitchen. She didn't do much, but she helped anyway.

Ashley didn't want to be idle, and neither did she want to be shedding tears before Katie. Attending to the laundry she already removed, she put them in the washing machine and set it. While waiting by the side for it to get washed.

"Mama, are you also grieving?" Little Katie's question. Ashley knew she couldn't escape from her questioning. She nods a yes.

"Grandma is grieving, that's why she is resting…why don't you rest too, mama?" She asks innocently. A smile spread on Ashley's lips. She pulls her into her arms.

"Mama will get some rest after this, ok," she said and Katie nodded.

It was dusk, and Katie had already fallen asleep. She tucked her under the warm cover as she stroked her hair gently. The night is here, another night of no sleep.

She stares at her sleeping daughter with teary eyes, her heart was heavy. She just couldn't take it, not anymore.

"Wish I could tell you all that's there…wish I could" she cries. As if hearing her, Katie turns in her sleep and hugs her tightly.

Ashley's night was consumed by total grief, all the memories of Andriy came flashes in her head, reawakening more pain and Giving her more reason to sadness shed tears. She has more to be strong for, staring at little Katie was more than enough reason for her.

I'm

She spent her night, crying and crying. Her eyes were swollen, and he was weak from too much crying.

It was still eleven at night, time seems not to want to move any further.

The night was silent, with only her heartbeat that could be heard.

Her world wasn't cold, because Katie was hugging her, warming up her life.

She was like her sun, her source of energy.

She was too tired to keep up. She could feel it in her bones, they don't lie.

She knew they were broken, but the fire was still there, and it was all possible because of Katie, her everything.

Giving into the comfort feeling, she was slowly consumed in her dreamland. Forgetting her sorrow and pain.