Chapter 123 Aria

• “Okay, I need you to listen to your grandmothers, alright?” My voice sounds calm, but inside, a wave of anxiety washes over me. My eyes meet Thorne and Elowen’s, sitting side by side on the couch in the living room. Their small bodies seem lost in the couch, which is far too big for them, but their legs swing nervously, betraying how restless they are.
• The gleam in their eyes, a mix of fear and sadness, tightens my heart. With every word I speak, it feels like I’m asking more than they can bear. They don’t want me to leave. And, if I’m honest, I don’t want to leave them either.
• “But what if they're mean to us?” Thorne asks, his voice breaking, his large eyes starting to fill with tears. The whiny tone makes him seem even smaller than he is, his fragility laid bare in a way that makes me want to hold him forever.