I got used to all the plants, and now Aaden's moved.I got used to all the plants, and now Aaden's moved. He isn't at Rhysh; nobody seems to know where he is. The door to my old bedroom's closed shut again, but the living room's the same. New bookshelf next to the old ones." She sighed. "You know, I miss him, too. But not the way you do. I've read 'The Kitten'n,' sweetheart." Bawr's fur crested with embarrassment. "So I know how well you and Dad got along. But I miss other things about him. I miss the scratchy beard he had when I was growing up. I miss watching him turn the crank to make ice cream. I miss his fission chili." Ember smiled a little wider. "I know. I miss those things too. I miss throwing him into the pool. I mean, I threw Maha in the other day, but it just wasn't the same." "Isn't Maha your father?" "Yeah, but he wasn't the one who I grew up with. I grew up with your dad, with Ken. Dad, my dad, was always busy, always out doing things. Now that I'm grown up, he's just another mel, really." Rainy nodded. "That was before Mom and he moved in together." Ember jumped up and said, "I'm gonna go talk to some of your ghosts." She walked to the bedroom portal and jumped. The gravitics lowered her quickly to the bed, and she grabbed the pillows, wrapping herself in them. Ken had always had large pillows on the bed, and if she concentrated real hard, she could just barely make out his scent on them, mingled with others. The scent just deepened her depression, making it hurt all the more. She barely noticed when Rainy landed on the bed. "That's not going to make you feel any better," Rainy said. "I know," Ember said, her voice cracking. "But I need to feel this. I need him." Rainy knelt on the bed next to her curled-up friend. "Ember," she said. "Close your eyes." Ember did so, and Rainy slowly placed her mitt against the back of Rainy's back. "Close your eyes and dream." Ember sobbed gently, her eyes closed and her head buried into the pillow. "Think about Ken, Ember. Try to remember him. Think of his long hair. Brown eyes. |