Let Me Stay The Night

As soon as Christina spoke, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she found herself gazing into Nathaniel’s eyes.

What a coincidence! Nathaniel shows up every time we say something about him. Did he put a wiretap in this house?

Nathaniel lifted Lucas and slung his schoolbag onto his shoulder. “It’s time to go to school, Lucas.”

“But Camila is sick. I want to stay and take care of her.” Lucas pursed his lips and blinked, trying to appeal to his father.

“There are plenty of people at home to look after her. You need to get to school on time.” As he spoke, Nathaniel marched toward the door with Lucas in his arms.

Having not seen his mother for a long time, Lucas was reluctant to attend kindergarten. Besides, he could recite the syllabus with his eyes closed.

He was determined to remain by his mother’s side. To that end, he clutched his stomach and yelled, “Ow! My stomach hurts! I don’t think I can go to school.”

Nathaniel scowled. He was fine earlier, and now he’s having a stomachache at the prospect of going to school. Nice try.

“I don’t care what hurts. You will go to school,” he insisted, his voice becoming dangerously soft.

Lucas’ panic grew when his father was about to leave the house with him. “Help, Mommy! It hurts so bad!”

Watching him gnash his teeth in agony, Christina became convinced that he was telling the truth. Concerned, she ran after the pair and stopped them.

“Didn’t you hear him say that he’s not feeling well?” Christina strode over and snatched Lucas out of Nathaniel’s arms.

Like a koala, Lucas clung to his mother. Thank God for Mommy. She loves me more than Daddy does.

Nuzzling against Christina’s bosom, he did not dare meet his father’s gaze for fear of being discovered.

“Where does it hurt? Show me.” Christina carried Lucas in and sat him down on the couch.

he pointed arbitrarily nonetheless. “Here,

kind of illness is this? It looks serious.

Lucas. I’ll take

grew anxious as well. She trotted over. “Don’t be scared, Lucas. I’ll bring you some

“You can’t share your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require a different

nodded blankly. “I understand,

and outspoken, while Camila was delicate

closer and studied Lucas’ expression intently. “I summoned the doctor. He’s coming to examine you

prospect of getting jabbed, he gave

infinitely preferable

up. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, Mommy. I’d better get going to school.”

another word, he got to his

much better within a few short seconds.

motives, Christina held his hand tenderly. “I’ll call in sick for you if you don’t want to attend school, but you must never lie to me again,

“I understand, Mommy. I

then, the family

follow-up with the doctor. The girl was well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s hand. “I’m not afraid

better, but she needs

the doctor left, Christina coaxed Camila to take her medicine and sketched while she stayed with her.

to put her to sleep. Christina glanced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their nap time,

lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the children soon fell asleep in her

children were sound

Lina had called her many times and left multiple text

one at a time. She asked Lina to send the documents

unwell. After learning via a series of

changed the password even after all those years. She keyed in the login credentials, and the screen unlocked.

lit photograph greeted her at

when we visited the amusement park? I can’t believe