ARIA
Kaleb was curled up on my lap, his head resting against my chest like he hadn't slept in days. His little fingers were still clenched in the fabric of my shirt. Lily, on the other hand, was fussy in Olivia's arms, squirming, whining, restless in that toddler way that said I want to go home even if she didn't know where home was anymore.
The room smelled like sterile walls and fatigue.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, my voice soft, threading gently through the space between us.
Olivia gave me a tired smile. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," I said quietly. "And it's okay."
She looked down at Lily, brushing her hair back with fingers that trembled just enough for me to notice. "I just feel… so stupid," she murmured. "I thought I could handle things. I thought... "
"It's not your fault," I said quickly. "It's mine."
Her eyes shot up to mine. "Aria... "
