I didn’t sleep.
No matter how many tis I closed my eyes, Paris’s words replayed relentlessly in my mind.
Children weren’t supposed to carry truths like that. They weren’t supposed to look at you and see through your every carefully constructed wall.
By the ti the sky began to lighten, my body felt heavy with exhaustion and dread.
Morning ca anyway....
The sound of small feet padding down the hallway pulled from my thoughts. I sat up on the couch, where I must have drifted into a half-sleep soti before dawn. My neck ached. My eyes burned.
Paris appeared first.
She looked... normal.
Her hair was neatly tied, and her pajamas had been replaced with a simple shirt and shorts. She didn’t avoid my eyes. She didn’t cling to . She didn’t look distant.
She smiled.
"Good morning, Mom."
My chest tightened.
"Good morning, sweetheart." I replied cautiously.
She walked past as if nothing had happened, heading straight to the kitchen. A mont later, Cairo and Egypt followed, still sleepy, bickering softly over who got to use the bathroom first.
"Moooom, Egypt took my toothbrush!"
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did!"
I rubbed my face slowly.
It had only been three days since they t, yet they had already beco as close as normal siblings.
Normal chaos. Normal noise.
As if the night before hadn’t cracked sothing wide open.
I followed them into the kitchen, watching Paris from the corner of my eye. She poured milk into glasses and handed them to her siblings with care.
"Did you sleep okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
She nodded. "Yeah."
No hesitation. No fear.
I didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified.
Cairo climbed onto his chair, rubbing his eyes. "Mom, can we go to the park later?"
"N-no, sweetheart. You’re still not well. Didn’t the doctor say no park for now?"
Cairo pouted, glancing at Egypt. "But I’m bored, Mom. Egypt and sister Paris get to go to school while I’m just ho. I want to experience going to school too... and have friends."
I froze. Even Egypt and Paris exchanged glances. They knew their brother’s condition, and I saw the sadness pass briefly through their eyes.
"Don’t worry, sweetheart," I said softly. "Mom is here. I’ll always stay by your side."
Cairo’s pout softened, replaced by a small spark in his eyes. "R-really? But I still want to see sister Paris and Egypt’s school."
"You will," I smiled. "We’ll walk them there. Don’t worry."
"Really, Mom? Hehe, did you hear that, Egypt? Mom said we’ll go and walk you to school!"
"Yes, I heard," Egypt said, puffing out her cheeks. "But why do you call her Sister Paris and only call Egypt?"
"Because I want to!"
Egypt grabbed his cheeks playfully. "O-ouch! Egypt, you’re hurting ee!"
"Hehe! Paris, look at Cairo’s cheeks! He looks like a cute hamster, doesn’t he?" Egypt laughed, pointing at his slightly red cheeks.
"Yeah, he’s cute..." Paris smiled briefly before sipping her milk.
Egypt froze. Then Egypt turned to , frowning slightly, before glancing at Paris again. "Why do you look weird today? Did you drink expired milk?"
"I didn’t.." Paris said quickly.
"Yes, you did," Egypt added. "You look distracted... like Mommy."
Paris shot her a bored look. "You’re just imagining things. Just drink your milk. Maybe you’re hungry."
Egypt didn’t press further, but then she looked back at . "Mom, did sothing happen?"
I hesitated, a lump forming in my throat.
"N-no. Maybe your sister is still sleepy. You shouldn’t bother her too much."
Despite Egypt’s doubtful look, she glanced at Cairo, and both shrugged before obeying imdiately.
That too made my stomach twist.
I was pouring coffee when the knock ca.
Three firm taps against the front door. My body went rigid. The sound echoed through the house like a gunshot.
Cairo looked up first. "Soone’s here!"
"I’ll get it," I said too quickly.
Paris’s spoon paused midair.
"Mom.." she said calmly.
I froze.
She didn’t raise her voice. She sounded certain, and that certainty made my chest pound.
"Let ." she said.
"No," I replied. "Stay here."
Another knock followed, gentler this ti. Even without seeing him, I already had a hunch it was Ro. And Paris must have felt it too.
"Mom," Paris said again, eting my eyes. "I know who it is."
Cairo frowned. "Who is it?"
"Nobody," I said quickly, my voice sharper than I intended.
Paris stood from her chair. The scrape of wood against tile sounded louder than my panicking heartbeat.
"I’ll check.." she said.
"Paris," I warned.
She stopped at the doorway, turning back to . Her expression wasn’t defiant. It was composed.
"You promised.." she said quietly.
My throat tightened. Before I could stop her, she walked toward the front door.
I followed imdiately, panic rising in my chest.
"Paris, stop—"
She reached the door and unlocked it. The door opened. And there he was.
Ro stood on our porch, dressed neatly in a casual button-down and dark jeans. In one hand, he held a small bouquet of flowers—simple, not extravagant. In the other, a paper bag and a cardboard tray of drinks.
Breakfast.
His eyes lifted, and when they landed on Paris, everything in his face changed. Shock.
For a brief mont, no one spoke.
Then Paris looked up at him. She didn’t smile. She didn’t step back. She just stared.
"You ca back." she said.
Ro swallowed. "I... yes."
I stepped forward sharply. "Ro. Leave."
He flinched, but didn’t take his eyes off Paris.
"Mom.." Paris said calmly, without turning.
"No. This is not—"
"Uh, he brought flowers.." Cairo called from behind us with curiosity.
"And food!" Egypt added, peeking around the corner.
Ro’s gaze flicked past Paris. His breath caught audibly, and his grip tightened around the paper bag.
"Sylvia," he said softly. "I just wanted to—"
"I said leave.." I snapped quietly.
Paris turned to face fully now.
"Mom, why don’t you let him co in?" she asked.
My chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself.
"No."
"He’s already here." she replied evenly.
Cairo tugged at my sleeve. "Wait, mister, you look familiar. Have we t before?"
Silence fell, heavy and unbearable. I imdiately turned my eyes to Ro. Did they et before?
Ro shifted awkwardly, glancing at , then back at the kids, as if asking permission. I just glared. How the hell did he and Cairo et?
"Y-yes... you’re the kid from the hospital. I rember you well." he said quietly.
A flicker of sadness crossed his eyes, his jaw tightening as if controlling his emotions.
"Oh right! You’re the man who chased when my dad wouldn’t even let see Mom. Now it makes sense why I can’t stop thinking about you—it’s because you’re familiar..." Cairo said, voice tinged with awe.
Instead of looking away, I saw Ro’s jaw tighten before he murmured softly, just enough to catch my attention.
"Dad."
His eyes spoke the word before his lips did. He forced a smile at Cairo, reached for his hair, then froze, realizing sothing imdiately.
"You know him, Cairo?" Egypt asked curiously. "You know Uncle Mr. Bear?"
"Yes. I t him once at the hospital. He’s the kind man who stopped from leaving when I wanted to see Mom!"
"So, who’s the dad you’re talking about, Cairo?" Paris asked, her tone serious. Even Ro glanced at her, as if searching for the sa answer.
"My dad! The one who raised ... I an, he’s also your dad," Cairo said innocently before looking at . "It’s our dad, right Mom?"
I didn’t know what to say. In that mont, I felt trapped. Cairo thought Bern was his father, while Paris knew it was Ro. I could see the confusion in their eyes, all seeking answers from . Even Ro’s regret and nervousness from knocking at the door had vanished and replaced by accusatory looks.
"Mom..." I heard Paris murmur softly, but I ignored her and focused on Ro.
"You... can’t be here. Can you please leave now?" I said gently but firmly.
I didn’t want to confuse the kids with his presence, and I had no idea how to answer their questions about him.
Paris looked at Ro, steady, controlling her curiosity.
"No, Mom," she said. "Don’t make him leave yet. He’s your visitor... please let him co inside."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"Paris," I whispered. "This isn’t your decision to make."
She t my eyes without flinching. "You have many things to explain, Mom... but please don’t lie anymore."
I had no response. My hands curled into fists.
Ro looked between us. His eyes were full of questions, but he glanced at Paris, Egypt, and Cairo, and smiled at them, as if to reassure them.
"Uh.. brought breakfast for you.." he said carefully.
Cairo’s eyes lit up. "Breakfast?"
Egypt nodded enthusiastically. "I want pancakes!"
"Good thing I also brought pancakes... and bread... and desserts." Ro added automatically, then glanced at . "Can I co inside?"
I looked at him in disbelief. How could he be so shaless?
Before I could stop him, Paris had already opened the door wider, inviting him in.
"Co in," Paris said, stepping aside.
Ro hesitated, then stepped inside, looking at for a mont but didn’t stop.
I wanted to scream, to pull Paris away, to slam the door in his face, and pretend this mont never existed. But Cairo was already bouncing on his feet, excitent overtaking his confusion.
"Mom, can he co in?" Egypt added, "He brought breakfast! You didn’t cook, so we’re glad he did. Or maybe you knew he would co."
"N-no—"
"Wow! You even brought chocolates, Mr. Bear? Thank you!" Egypt exclaid, and Cairo quickly joined in.
My heart quietly shattered. I couldn’t believe my kids chose Ro over just because he brought breakfast. No. I couldn’t let him take my children away because of his bribe.
"Mom, am I allowed to eat this?" Cairo asked, holding a pudding container.
"N-no—"
"Pretty please?"
Arrrghhh...
"...Fine," I said through clenched teeth. "But don’t eat too much. Too many sweets are bad for your health and teeth."
"Thank you, Mommy!" Cairo said happily.
Ro exhaled slowly, and I gave him a sharp glare.
"Thank you.." he said.
What the—why was he thanking ? I wanted to stop him, but before I could, he sat at the dining table with the three children.
Seeing them together made feel like an outsider. The house felt smaller. Too full.
Ro placed the flowers awkwardly on the console table, then the breakfast on the dining table.
Paris didn’t move. She stood in front of him, studying him.
"You look different now compared to before." she said.
Ro let out a small, nervous breath. "H-haha, you think so?"
Cairo glanced between them. "Do you know each other?"
Paris answered before I could. "We’ve t countless tis before."
Egypt tilted her head from Paris to Ro, noticing a flicker of mischief in her eyes.
"He’s our Uncle Cairo. He’s friends with Uncle Alpheus and Uncle Dave—the handso man who brought you to the hospital. Before, he just wore a bear mascot, but now he’s not afraid of sunlight anymore!"
"Oh, so he’s like a vampire?"
"Hehehe, yes, like a vampire."
Ro scratched his head at Egypt’s comnt, then briefly looked at .
"I’m Ro Hariston... I’m soone from your mom’s past.." he said gently.
It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over . I froze, unable to speak.
"That’s vague. Mom didn’t tell us she knew soone from her past.." Paris said, watching his face closely, asuring his every word.
Ro blinked, then let out a quiet huff of a laugh, trying to hide his true emotion.
"But your mom knows more than anyone else."
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