Myocardium

Part 16

I know for a fact that it's better this way. For as long as I've been taking care of them, I've been preaching the dangers of strangers to them and they've greatly adapted to my advice. It might be a bit hard for my siblings to have new people around, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to take.

I'd do anything to protect my siblings from the things I had to experience.

No matter what it takes. 

"Is there a problem?" I ask as I rush to them, picking up Daisy and gently maneuvering Sasha behind me with the swift motion of a hand. He's clenched a fist in defence and was most likely not hesitating either, had this man made any suspicious suggestions. 

I might need to have a talk with him about his temper, at least so he knows to control it until he is actually strong enough to defeat someone who might want to hurt them. For now, he is just a kid, and he should always come to me if there is trouble that he can't solve with words. "And who are you, exactly?" the man asks rudely, directing the question to my siblings rather than to me. 

"He's our brother," Daisy screeches happily and gives him an innocent smile, clinging to my neck for even more support than my arms offer around her legs and back. The old fella looks at all three of us alternately. 

"I'd much rather talk to your mother. You kids shouldn't be out here all by yourself."

The man squints his eyes and breaks my brother's and my heart into a thousand more pieces with every word he speaks. 

"I'm afraid you can't. She doesn't live with us anymore. But I am their legal guardian and there is nothing for you to worry about," I answer calmly, still a bit confused by the guy's intentions. 

For now, peace is the right approach. 

"Are you kids going to be okay?" he continues interrogating us, but my brother snaps back in a steady voice, "Why wouldn't we be? We have someone who takes great care of us. There is no need for you to worry, Sir."

"Okay, alright. Sorry for bothering, then. I hope you have a good day," he tells us, gives up on the conversation and eventually wanders off. 

What a strange man.  

"Are you two okay?" I sigh deeply and put Daisy back down once we're a bit closer to our cart.
"Yeah," Sasha responds and nods, "He didn't do anything."

"Good. Just try to stay a bit closer to me for now, okay?" I advise them and they follow my command, hopping around the cart while I gather the rest of our things and we're quick to leave the store. After stowing the groceries away at home, I ask the kids if they want to go to the park and get the expected, enthusiastic agreement. So, in the most waterproof clothes we own plus rubber boots, we walk along the streets through the pouring rain.

"I loooooove rain!" Daisy giggles and jumps into a puddle on the sidewalk we're strolling on. It doesn't take long for us to reach the small park. Contently, I watch my siblings chase each other through the mud. It's good to see that they get the chance to be kids, I like the idea of them being happy and carefree.

Rafael protrudes my mind again, the thought of him makes me chuckle to myself. It's dumb, but I can tell that he's a genuine person. 

Once we're back at home after our successful trip to the park, we get together in the living room to play some board games. It's always a pleasure to do so, I personally enjoy these little moments with my siblings a lot, and I sincerely hope they appreciate them as much as I do.

"Heyy, you cheated," Sasha calls me out for when I accidentally grant myself 100 more of the currency than I'm supposed to as we're playing Monopoly. 

"Nonono, I swear it wasn't intentional," I laugh and put the money back to the bank.