Page 113 of How You See Me
The moment her face appears on the screen, my heart fractures. Hayes immediately tears up, his body melting from seeing his favorite person weak and despondent. She’s wrapped in a fuzzy pink blanket, her tiny frame sunken beneath it. Her eyelids are heavy and purple, but she sparks to life the moment he appears.
“Hey, Cupcake,” he says, his voice trembling.
“Don’t cry, Sprinkles.”
“I’m just so happy to see you.”
“Me too.” A tear slides from her eye and vanishes into the pillow.
“What are you and Mom up to?”
“WatchingBeauty and the Beast.”
“Which one? Cartoon or real people?”
“Cartoon,” she answers. “It’s way better.”
“Agreed.”
“Where are you today?” she asks.
“We’re in New Mexico. Did Mom show you the hot air balloon photos I sent?”
“Oh, yeah. They were so pretty. Where’s Josie?”
“Are you afraid I left her up there?”
Ava giggles, and it’s a raspy, garbled sound, tugging at my heart once again. She shouldn’t have to fight so hard. It’s not fair. Nothing about this is fair.
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Never,” he promises. “She’s here, and we have something to tell you.”
“Are you dating now?”
“How’d you guess?
“You look different.”
He laughs. “Different is good, I hope.”
“Yeah. I like it.”
“Me too. Want to meet her?”
Ava smiles, adding a touch of pink to her cheeks.
He passes me the phone, and suddenly, it’s just me and Ava. My nerves run away with the bravery I felt when I suggested the call. I want her to like me. To know I’m taking good care of her brother as she would. To see I’m trying to be worthy of him—of them both.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Ava. I’ve heard so many wonderful things.”
“Does Haysie talk about me?”
I wrangle some courage from Hayes sitting beside me. “All the time. He’s a very proud big brother.”
“Was the balloon scary?”
“A little at first, but when Hayes told me we were doing it for you, all my fear went away.”
