Page 43 of Sexting My Ex's Dad
“Here we are,” Carol announces gently as she stops in front of a door adorned with colorful drawings. I recognize Leo’s artwork immediately, and it brings a warm smile to my face. “He really has been looking forward to your visit.”
“Thank you, Carol,” I reply. She gives me an understanding nod before leaving me to enter the room alone.
Pushing open the door, the sight of Leo instantly illuminates my face with a radiant smile. He’s sitting by the window, his curly brown hair highlighted by the sun streaming in. His eyes widen in recognition, sparkling with unbridled joy as he turns to greet me. My heart swells at the sight of him, my beloved brother who inspires me to keep fighting every day.
“Stella!” he exclaims, his voice filled with warmth and affection. “You’re here! They told me you were coming. I knew it!”
“Hey, Leo,” I respond, crossing the room to envelop him in a tight hug. The familiar scent of his soap fills my nose. “I missed you so much.”
“Missed you too,” he murmurs into my shoulder, his arms tightening around me. For a brief moment, the weight of the world evaporates, replaced by the simple joy of being with my brother.
“Leo,” I say softly, brushing a stray curl from his forehead, “I’ve got some good news. I brought the money for your care, so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere. I promise.”
“Stella, you always take care of me,” he replies, his eyes shining with admiration and love. “I know you do everything for me.”
“I’ll never stop, Leo,” I promise, my voice resolute. No matter what, I will always fight for him - he’s worth every struggle, every sacrifice.
“Thank you,” he whispers, a tear escaping from the corner of his eye. As I wipe it away, I vow to myself that I’ll keep fighting for Leo’s happiness, no matter what obstacles lie ahead. For now, though, I focus on this moment, cherishing the time we have together before I’m forced to go back home again. “What are we going to do today?”
I think for a moment, wanting to make the most of our time together. “How about we start with your favorite puzzle?” I suggest, knowing how much he loves piecing together the vibrant images.
“Yay!” Leo exclaims, clapping his hands in excitement. We sit at the small table near the window, and I pour out the box of jigsaw pieces onto the tabletop. As we begin to piece them together, Leo’s laughter fills the room, each note of happiness pushing away the weight of our struggles.
“Stella, look! I found a big piece,” he says, proudly holding it up for me to see. His enthusiasm is infectious, and I can’t help but smile at his triumph.
“Great job, Leo!” I praise, matching his excitement. “You’re really good at this.”
As we work on the puzzle, I gently guide his hand when he struggles with fitting the pieces together.
“Remember when we used to do puzzles together at home?” Leo asks wistfully, his words tugging at my heartstrings.
“Of course, I do,” I reply softly, my eyes meeting his. “Those were some of the best times, weren’t they?”
“Uh-huh,” he agrees, his smile both sweet and a little sad. “I miss being at home with you, Stella.”
“I miss it too, Leo,” I admit, swallowing the lump in my throat. “But I want you to have the best care possible, and you’re getting that here.”
“Hm…”
As we finish the puzzle, our laughter and conversation fill the room, creating a temporary refuge from the world outside. For now, we are simply Stella and Leo - two siblings enjoying each other’s company, savoring every precious moment together.
A soft chime echoes through the room, signaling that visiting hours are almost over. My heart aches as I glance at the clock, realizing how quickly time has slipped away from us. Leo looks up from our activity, sensing my unease.
“Is it time for you to go, Stella?” he asks, his expression tinged with sadness.
I nod reluctantly, forcing a smile onto my face. “Yes, but don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Though I try to hide it, there’s a heaviness that settles in my chest at having to leave him behind. I know that’s not what it is – that I’m doing what’s best for him, but it doesn’t always feel like that.
“Did you have fun today?” I inquire, reaching out to brush a stray curl away from his forehead.
“Uh-huh,” he answers, his eyes lighting up with genuine happiness. “I always have fun when you’re here, Stella.”
“Me too,” I confess, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability. “You make everything brighter, Leo.”
