Once we arrive home, I take Leilani to my room, tending to her until she relaxes in my grasp. She doesn't fight me; just rests on my chest as we sit in comfortable silence on my bed. She stopped crying a long time ago, but the impact of her tears still weighs on my chest like a massive cannonball.
Still, I'm glad to be her chosen pillar of strength in this low moment of hers. It's another way for me to be closer to her, emotionally this time. Hopefully, it'll draw her closer to me too, and prompt her to open her heart to me even a little.
About half an hour of us hugging later, Leilani finally shifts in my grasp. She clears her throat.
"I'm going to take a shower now."
I loosen my grip on her, pulling away so I can see her face, but she hides it from me. Biting back the urge to sigh, I let Leilani stand, the warmth from her disappearing from my body in an instant.
"I'll go and cook then. Come down and eat once you're done bathing, okay?"
