Sweet Subterfuge

Larissa did not remember how long it had been since she last heard Aster’s voice. She kept thinking about it, to the point that int that she was

close to hallucinating. She could frequently hear Aster calling her “Mommy,” repeatedly in happiness, joy, depression, sadness – But she knew all too well that those were merely hallucinations.

However, it was different this time.

“Are you working? Aster’s voice held some confusion and tentativeness in it

Larissa stared at Kevan’s phone so hard that her vision actually blurred out, though she did not know if the staring was what caused it to happen.

“Yeah.” Kevan peeked at Larissa out of the comer of his eye, his tone gentle as it always was whenever he was chatting with Aster.

“Aw” Aster drew out the word with disappointment. “I call later then””

He video-called Kevan at this time almost every day, so naturally, he thought that Kevan was free right now,

and took the initiative in

Judy praised me today!” Aster’s tone pitched upward, the pride obvious

an eyebrow slightly, he asked with some

the infirmary and got Dr. Mora to wrap its injuries. I even used some wood to build a little house for it! Ms. Judy said I was very kind, and

phone vibrated, surely having

to stretch her neck to look, but because she was too far away, she could only see a blurry mess of

you see it?”

bigger. “Yes.” He gazed at the pictures Aster sent and did not look

voice held a subdued hint

chuckled, his deep voice oh, so wonderfully soft and gentle. “Of course it is. You made

Aster giggled again,

natural conversation made Larissa just a tad jealous. But at the same time, she was somehow

figured that she must

an hour later, he found an excuse to hang up. Turning back, he saw the complicated expression on