Alice was glaring at him with narrow eyes, incredibly displeased. She looked like a kitten who had her breakfast taken away.
"Why did you stop petting me?! You're not allowed to pause! I need it to recover!"
"…"
Silence.
With yet another defeated sigh, Kaiden slowly resumed stroking her hair.
Alice practically melted into the pillow, getting visibly comfier by the second.
Minutes passed like that. The atmosphere was quiet and warm, incredibly soft.
A tender stillness wrapped around them, gentle and fragile.
At last, Alice spoke.
"I love you, big brother."
For once, there was no questionable undertone to what she said.
Just truth.
Kaiden smiled. "I love you too, Alice."
"I'm really sleepy…" she yawned.
"Then sleep," he whispered. "I'll stay until you do."
Her whole face lit with unfiltered joy.
"It's just like the old times…"
Peace settled in between the two of them; it felt like a very tender, familiar moment.
And then, the heaviness hit him.
