Morning ca quietly.
I must have fallen asleep at so point but not fully. Just enough for exhaustion to pull under for a few minutes at a ti.
My head rested against the side of the bed, my hand still loosely wrapped around Cairo’s. My neck ached slightly as I stirred, my eyes fluttering open slowly.
Even though the room was cold, I hadn’t felt it.
That’s when I noticed the jacket draped over my shoulders. It was warm and familiar.
I paused, realizing it was the sa jacket Ro had been wearing last night.
He must have put it on .
For a brief second, warmth crept up my cheeks but it faded just as quickly when everything ca rushing back.
Cairo.
I straightened imdiately, my heart tightening, but his breathing was steady.
Relief washed over so suddenly it almost made weak.
"He didn’t wake."
The low voice pulled my attention away.
I turned.
Ro was already awake.
Only then did I notice how exhausted he looked. Not just tired but worn down in a way that sleep alone couldn’t fix. He was still sitting in the sa chair, though his posture had shifted slightly. His hair was a little ssy, but it didn’t take away from his composed appearance.
One arm rested near Cairo, close enough to reach him at any mont.
"Did you sleep?" I asked softly.
"A little.." he replied.
It wasn’t convincing. But I didn’t push.
I nodded faintly and adjusted my hold on Cairo’s hand, gentler this ti.
The room was still quiet. But it felt different from last night. Less suffocating and heavy.
Then, a soft knock.
Before either of us could respond, the door opened.
"Mom—!"
Egypt’s voice broke through the silence, panicked.
She rushed in first, her eyes wide as she scanned the room frantically until they landed on the bed.
"Cairo!"
Paris followed right behind her, quieter but no less alard. Her gaze imdiately found her brother, her face paling slightly.
"Is he okay...?" she asked softly.
Then, a third figure stepped in.
My eyes widened slightly as I recognized him.
Sylvester.
His expression was tense, his eyes imdiately locking onto .
But then, they shifted to Ro. And everything changed.
The air in the room turned sharp, almost suffocating.
"What is he doing here?"
Sylvester’s voice dropped cold and heavy in a way I had never heard before. It didn’t sound like him at all.
Paris stilled.
Egypt looked between all of us, confusion slowly forming on her face.
"Wait..." she said slowly, her gaze moving from ... to Ro... then back again.
"What is Uncle Ro doing here? What’s going on?"
My chest tightened.
This was happening too fast. I forced myself to stay calm.
"Kids... why are you here? Why are you with Sylvester?" I asked carefully, trying to redirect the situation.
Egypt answered quickly, still shaken.
"When we woke up, you and Cairo weren’t there. Paris and I got scared... we were looking for you, and then our new neighbor was inside the house while Uncle Sylvester was arguing with him..."
She swallowed.
"Then Uncle Sylvester brought us here. He said he knew where you and Cairo were... so we ca."
I rubbed my face, trying to steady myself. This was exactly the confrontation I had been trying to avoid.
I wanted to tell them slowly. Not like this.
"I’m sorry, sweethearts," I said softly, casting a brief glare at Sylvester. "I had to leave last night because of Cairo’s condition. You know your brother isn’t well, right?"
"Yes," Egypt nodded quickly. "But is Cairo going to be okay? Can he still play with us when he gets better?"
Her innocent question made my chest tighten painfully.
I didn’t know how to explain Cairo’s condition to her without hurting her.
Without breaking that innocence.
For a brief mont, I found myself glancing at Ro. Unsure why, but likely searching for his support and answer to Egypt’s question.
"Cairo is strong," I said gently. "He’s going to be okay. But he can’t get too tired. He needs to get much better first and be properly treated before he can play again."
I brushed Cairo’s hand lightly and careful, almost afraid to disturb him.
"For now, just stay by his side while he gets better."
"Then when will he be okay?" Egypt asked again, her voice softer now. "How many nights until he gets better?"
I hesitated.
"About that..."
"It might take a while before he fully recovers.." Ro said gently, cutting in before I could struggle through an answer. His voice was calm and soft in a way I wasn’t used to hearing from him.
"As his strong and kind older sister, you understand that, right?" he continued, looking at her gently. "We’ll take care of him and make sure he doesn’t feel sad.."
Egypt nodded, though worry still lingered in her eyes.
"Yes... I’m strong. I can take care of Cairo because he’s my brother."
Then her gaze shifted again, back to and Ro.
"But... why are you with Mom and Cairo, Uncle Ro?"
Ro and I briefly t eyes then both looked away.
"You see, Egypt," I said softly, "Uncle Ro helped bring Cairo to the hospital. He’s also worried about your brother."
"So... he stayed with you all night?" she asked.
"Y-yes..." I answered, avoiding her gaze, suddenly feeling like I was being questioned in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
I caught Sylvester watching from the side, like he was asuring every reaction I gave.
"Uncle Ro," Egypt turned to him, "is it true you’re also worried about Cairo?"
"Yes," Ro answered without hesitation. "I’m very worried about him."
"Why?" Egypt asked again, tilting her head slightly. "Why are you worried about him?"
I froze.
That question. It wasn’t simple. It wasn’t sothing I could answer with another excuse.
"Egypt, sweetheart..." I started, forcing a small smile. "Of course Uncle Ro is worried because he’s—"
I stopped.
The words wouldn’t co out because I couldn’t lie anymore. But I also wasn’t ready to tell the truth that Ro is their father. Not like this.
"...he’s what, Mom?" Egypt asked innocently, waiting.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I glanced at Ro briefly.
He was watching . Waiting.
But he didn’t interfere. He was leaving the choice to .
"...About that..." I said slowly. "I’ll tell you sothing after Cairo wakes up. Can you wait until then?"
"Um... okay!" Egypt nodded and finally turned her attention back to Cairo.
I exhaled quietly, relief slipping through .
But it didn’t last....
"No."
Sylvester’s voice cut through the room sharply.
All attention shifted to him.
"I think this is exactly the right ti to tell them the truth." he said firmly.
"Don’t wait for Cairo to wake up to tell them what they need to know."
His gaze locked onto Ro.
"And you—Mr. Hariston," he continued, stepping forward slightly. "I hate what you did to my sister. But I hate even more how you’re just standing here, saying nothing."
His voice dropped lower.
"I hate that you can stomach hiding the truth from your own children. Haven’t you heard of co-parenting?"
I stared at him, stunned.
"W-wait, Sylvester—don’t say things like that in front of the children—"
"Co-parenting?" Egypt repeated, confused. She looked at Paris. "Do you know what that ans?"
Paris shook her head slightly. "No... ask Mom."
Egypt turned to again.
"Mom... what does that an?"
I almost sighed.
Calm down, Sylvia.
I shot Sylvester a look, but he only shrugged, completely unapologetic.
This man...
"Mom...?" Egypt called again, softer this ti. "What does co-parenting an?"
Her question hung in the air.
I opened my mouth but nothing ca out.
Because how was I supposed to explain that?
How was I supposed to tell them the truth now, when everything was happening too fast... when Cairo was still lying there, fragile? This is not the perfect mont for that!
My fingers tightened slightly around Cairo’s hand.
"I’ll explain it later," I said gently. "For now, just—"
"No." Sylvester cut in again, firr this ti.
"They deserve to know now."
His eyes shifted back to Ro.
"And you," he added coldly, "stop hiding behind silence."
Ro didn’t respond to Sylvester’s provocation. He didn’t react.
But I saw it, the slight tightening of his jaw, the subtle way his shoulders straightened. Like he was holding sothing back. Like he was restraining everything he wanted to say.
"I’m not hiding." Ro said calmly.
Sylvester scoffed. "Really? Because from where I’m standing, you’ve been silent long enough."
"That’s enough, Sylvester." I said, my voice firr now.
Sylvester looked at again. And this ti, there was sothing else in his expression.
Concern and frustration. And sothing close to helplessness.
"I’m not doing this to make things worse," he said, quieter now. "I’m doing this because they’ve been kept in the dark long enough."
His words hit because he wasn’t wrong.
I just... wasn’t ready.
"Mom..."
This ti, it was Paris.
I looked at her.
"I think I already understand what Uncle Sylvester ans," she said quietly. "If you’re ready to tell us the truth... we’ll understand."
My chest tightened.
Paris had always been perceptive.
I swallowed.
Ro still hadn’t spoken.
He was watching , just like Paris. Leaving all the decision to .
My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
I guess there was no more delaying this, no more running from it, no more pretending there was still ti to choose a better mont.
"...Co-parenting," I began slowly, my voice quieter now, "ans raising children together... even if the parents aren’t together anymore."
Egypt frowned slightly, trying to process it.
"So... like... two parents taking care of their kids together?" she asked.
"Yes.." I said softly.
Her gaze shifted again.
From to Ro. Then back to again.
And I saw it.
The mont everything started to connect.
"Then..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "why did Uncle Sylvester say that to Uncle Ro...?"
Silence.
I couldn’t breathe.
Because I knew what ca next. I felt it even before I said it.
"...Because," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "he’s not just soone you can call your uncle... or my friend."
The room stilled.
Every second stretched.
"He’s..." I swallowed. "He’s your father."
The words fell softly but they echoed.
Egypt froze.
Paris didn’t move.
Sylvester went silent.
And Ro, he exhaled slowly, like he had been holding his breath this entire ti.
Egypt blinked twice.
Then her gaze slowly lifted to him again.
"...You’re... our dad?" she asked, her voice small, almost uncertain.
And in that mont, everything hung on his answer.
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