Page 79 of Love Me Not

By herself.

Even after knowing Bella for some time now, I was shocked at how independent she was.

I stood up, sending her a smile.“You got it, but let’s dry your hair a bit more first, hm?”

When I reached her, I held out my hand, and she took it right away, leading me to her room.It was mostly dark, save for the light by her bedside table and the one leaking from her bathroom.

We went into the bathroom, where the brush and hair ties were already waiting.She stood in front of the mirror, her eyes on me.

I picked up the brush and immediately got to work, brushing out any knots before attempting to dry it.

“You’re very independent for your age,” I commented.“Have you always liked doing your bedtime routine alone?”

When she looked down at the counter, I took it as my sign not to pry and reached into one of the cabinets, looking for the dryer.

“My mommy would wait in my bed for me with a bedtime story,” she whispered.“She was proud of me when I did things by myself, so I?—”

Her voice cut off.I leaned down and gave her a small one-sided hug, placing my cheek on the top of her head.

“I’m proud of you too,” I said in a low voice.“But if you want any help, you let me know, okay?There are many things youcando alone, but it doesn’t mean youhaveto.”

She didn’t respond, her gaze still locked in on the counter.Through the mirror, I could tell how close she was to breaking down.

I gave her a few moments before I pulled away and started setting up the dryer.

“I’m going to dry your hair now, okay?”

She nodded but said nothing else.

I started on the lowest setting and ran my fingers through her hair as I dried it.I worked in silence, letting her mind wander.I wondered if she was imagining her mother in my place.Remembering her fingers running against her scalp.Her mother’s warmth behind her.Her scent.

It hurt because I’d been there.I knew what she was probably thinking.

Many times, I would find myself hoarding my mother’s old perfume in my bathroom, spraying it when I missed her the most.

“My mom was the one who taught me how to braid,” I said when I was done drying her hair.“She wasreallygood at it.”

“Do you miss her?”

I paused before running my fingers through her hair to start one of the two braids.

“Every day,” I whispered, my throat clogging.“Even more in moments like this when I remember us doing the same thing.”

“I can’t dry my hair,” she said after a pause.“I don’t… do it good.”

I finished one braid and started on the next.No wonder she wakes up with hair sticking up everywhere sometimes.

“I can help with that if you want me to.”I sent her a smile in the mirror when I realized she was looking at me.I placed the finished braids over her shoulders and squeezed them.“Bedtime?”

She nodded and left the bathroom.I followed closely behind, turning off the light.She crawled into her bed and under her covers, her eyes flicking to me.

“Is it okay if I help you turn off the light?”

She nodded.I crossed the room, stopping at her bedside table.

“Sweet dreams, Bella.I’ll see you in the morning, and I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”

As I reached to flick off the light, her little voice reached my ears.

---