After we return from the cemetery, everyone retreats to their rooms. No matter how they show it, the truth is everyone loved Uncle. Everyone is heartbroken. No one has the energy to console another person drowning in the same pain.
I enter my room—and pause.
He’s sitting on my bed.
Salvario
She runs to me and climbs onto my lap, hugging me tightly. Her sobs start the moment I hold her. She’s been crying since morning without pause.
I hate seeing her like this. I hate myself for being the reason for her grief.
“Uncle is dead, Salvario.” The words come out in a broken whisper, choked with tears.
“I’m sorry, Princess.”I truly am. I didn’t want to do this, but I had no other choice.
I hold her tight, rubbing her back as she sobs.
“Just two days ago, he was dancing with us. And now he’s gone.”
I lift her and lay her down on the bed. I remove her black sandals, lie beside her, and pull her into my chest.
“You know, when I was little, he used to carry Avi on one shoulder and me on the other. He’d let us mess with his hair when we wanted to make braids.” She sobs.
I keep stroking her hair, letting her say whatever she needs. I don’t know what else to do to stop the tears.
“He always had the best jokes. He made us laugh. He was the best uncle in the world. Why did this happen to him?” She goes breathless, choked on her cries and words.
I pull back and pat her cheek. Her skin is burning hot. The sobs won’t stop, she’s struggling for air.
I sit up fast, blood roaring in my veins, pulse spiking. I yank her upright.
“Take a long breath, Princess.”
She tries, but the sobbing won’t let her.
“Fuck.”
I force my fingers into her mouth—her teeth are clenched too tight. Her eyes roll back.
I pull her lower jaw down with one hand, prying her teeth apart with the other. The moment her teeth part, she gasps. Her body slumps against me.
My panic spikes.
“Elowen.” I whisper her name, urgent, desperate.
“Elowen.”
She doesn’t answer. Her eyes are shut. I release her jaw, her teeth clack shut. But she’s breathing through her nose.
I pat her cheek.
“Open your eyes, Princess,” I plead.
I lay her down and grab the water bottle from the nightstand. I splash some on her face.
She flinches. Her eyes open. She looks at me.
I cup her face with my wet palm.
