Iyla pov
I heard Mommy talking. Her voice sounded funny, like she was gonna cry. I got off the sofa and went to the kitchen. "Mommy?" I said, pulling on her dress. "What's wrong? You wook sad."
Mommy looked down at me, and her eyes were shiny. "Oh, baby," she said, and picked me up. "Mommy's okay. Just a little… tired."
But she didn't look tired. She looked like she was gonna cry. "Do you need a hug?" I asked, patting her cheek.
Mommy hugged me really tight. "Yes, I do," she whispered.
I hugged her back. She smelled like flowers and cookies. I liked hugging Mommy.
Halle and Sarai looked at me. They didn't look mad. They looked… sad?
"She's so sweet," Halle said, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Sarai said, nodding. "She's just like you, Nyara. So caring."
Mommy wiped her eyes and smiled a little. "Thank you," she said, her voice still a little shaky. "I'm okay now."
"We're here for you, Nyara," Halle said. "Always."
"Yeah," Sarai said. "And for Iyla too."
I smiled at them. They smiled back, but not a big, happy smile. It was still a little small.
"Can I have more cookies?" I asked.
Mommy laughed a little. "Of course, baby," she said. "Let's get you some cookies."
She put me down and we went to the cookie jar. I got two cookies!
"Can we watch a movie now?" I asked.
"Sure, sweetie," Mommy said. "What movie do you want to watch?"
"The one with the talking animals!" I said, clapping my hands.
"Okay," Mommy said, and she went to the living room with me. Halle and Sarai followed us.
We sat on the couch and watched the movie. It was funny! The animals were silly. But I kept looking at Mommy. And I kept thinking about my stars, and Mommy's stars. And why everyone looked so sad. I didn't like it when Mommy was sad. I wanted her to be happy.
The talking animals on the screen were making silly faces and funny noises, but I wasn't really watching. I was watching Mommy. And Halle and Sarai. They were all quiet. Too quiet.
I took a bite of my cookie, but it didn't taste as good as before. I wished they would laugh at the funny animals. But they just sat there, looking at the screen, but not really watching.
"Are you okay?" I asked Mommy, whispering.
"Yes, baby," she whispered back, and hugged me close. But her hug felt tight, like she was trying to hold something back.
I looked at Halle and Sarai. They were looking at each other, like they were having a secret talk with their eyes. I didn't like it.
"Can we play a game?" I asked, trying to sound happy.
"Maybe later, sweetie," Mommy said, her voice soft. "Let's finish the movie."
But I didn't want to finish the movie. I wanted to play. Or draw. Or sing. I wanted to do something fun.
I looked at my arm, at my star sky. I wondered why it made everyone so sad. I liked my stars. They were pretty. And Mommy had them too!
I wished I could ask them why they were sad. But I was scared they would get mad. So I just sat there, eating my cookie, and watching the silly animals on the screen. But I wasn't really watching. I was just waiting for everyone to be happy again.
The movie ended, and the credits rolled across the screen. The talking animals bowed, and the music played its final notes. But nobody clapped. Nobody even smiled.
"That was a good movie," Mommy said, but her voice didn't sound like she meant it.
"Yeah," Halle said, but she didn't look at Mommy.
Sarai just nodded, and looked at her phone.
I felt a little teary. I didn't like it when everyone was sad. I wanted to make them happy.
"Can we play a game now?" I asked, my voice small.
"Maybe later, Iyla," Mommy said, and she got up. "I need to… I need to make a phone call."
She went to her room and closed the door. I heard her talking, but I couldn't hear what she was saying.
Halle and Sarai were still on the couch. They looked at me, but they didn't smile.
"Do you want to draw with me?" I asked, holding up my crayons.
"Maybe later, Iyla," Halle said, and she looked at her phone too.
"Do you want cookies?" I asked.
"No, thank you," Sarai said, and she looked out the window.
I felt like I was invisible. Like I wasn't even there. I didn't understand why everyone was so sad. I just wanted to play.
I got off the couch and went to mommies room. Teddy was on my bed, waiting for me. I hugged him tight. He was soft and warm.
"Why is everyone sad, Teddy?" I asked him. But Teddy didn't answer. He just looked at me with his button eyes.
I sat on my bed and looked at my stars. I traced them with my finger. They were pretty. I wished everyone thought they were pretty too. I wished everyone was happy.
I wished Mommy would come back. I wished we could play. I wished everything was like it was before. When we were just Mommy and me, and everything was happy.