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“Yes, well, sometimes it serves a purpose, but now we’re on the right track and we need to give her time.”
It sounded like the sobbing had slowed down.
Bruce patted my shoulder. “She’ll feel better tomorrow, you’ll see.”
A bird landed on the ground in front of us and distracted us for a few seconds before it took off again.
“I think something happened with her mom’s boyfriend,” I said. “She got jumpy today when I asked about it.”
Bruce tilted his head. “Interesting; good to know.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know what happened.”
“It’s good that you’re watching for clues. Remember we’re looking for hidden bombs, and something happened tonight to set off one from her early childhood. This could be important.”
Bruce left and I went back inside the cabin. At that time Cia was no longer sobbing but quietly sniffling.
I didn’t speak but brushed my teeth and climbed into bed without a word. For a few minutes I lay there wondering what to do; my instinct told me to offer my support, so I tested the waters by placing a hand on her back. She didn’t jerk or shrug it off so I stroked her gently and then I moved a bit closer.
When I tried to pull at her shoulder she stiffened. She didn’t want to turn around and face me, and I could respect that.
Instead I just brushed her arm gently, up and down, while humming that lullaby from the other night.
It didn’t take more than five minutes before I could tell from her breathing that she had fallen asleep.
I had a ton of questions in my head and wasn’t so sure I agreed with Bruce that tomorrow would make for an interesting day. I felt pretty shitty and afraid that something I had done or said had caused this reaction.
