chapter 20(2)

Gannon Abbie clings to me on the floor, her sobs finally quieting until only her uneven breathing remains. Her small body trembles in my arms, and I hold her tighter, as if somehow my embrace alone can shield her from the storm raging inside her. I kiss the top of her head gently, murmuring quiet reassurances, even though I know my words probably won’t reach her right now. She’s lost in her own mind, in her pain. I can see it in her vacant expression, feel it in the way her fingers twitch restlessly against my chest as if she doesn’t know what to do with herself anymore. It tears me apart, this helplessness, but I won’t give up on her. I refuse to give up on her. I let her cry it out, holding her until her trembling eases. After a while, I gently help her up and lead her back to the kitchen. She moves like she’s on autopilot, her steps slow and her eyes distant. I sit her at the table and grab the plate of food I prepared earlier. The steak has gone cold, but I don’t care. What matters