Growing up is a pain, and it is what it is
Okay, It's not the end of the world
With no eyes on me, but mine on everyone else, everything feels more familiar than it should. Slipping beneath notice, skimming under recognition—it’s how I’ve always moved through the world. Like stepping into a second skin, one I know better than my own.Okay, It's not the end of the world
Especially when I don’t want to be seen. I’m too mopey. Happy, but still mopey. I miss my dad. I ache for a night like this with him—just one—but I know better than to wish too hard. This night is for my uncles, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. They deserve it—surrounded by all the people who love them.
My gaze finds my mom and grandmother, and something in my chest softens.
At least my plus one made it.
I drift closer while they talk, watching the smile play on my mother’s face, studying the flickers of expression on Vai’s. The three of us share more features than I realized. Then my eyes sweep back over the crowd, scanning the celebration. So many faces. So much family. More than I ever dreamed of having. I catch sight of Flora again with both her brothers, one of them so obviously Enzo , and spot someone I can only guess is
I make a quiet promise to myself: I’ll greet each of them before the night’s over—introduce myself properly. Who knows if I’ll ever get another chance to meet all my cousins?
I start with the smallest.
Weaving through the crowd, I find Remi holding Aoife. A grin pulls at my lips as I wave at the excitable toddler. Then I glance between Remi and Ronin, lifting a hand in greeting.
“Hope I’m not interrupting. Is this my first little cousin?”
There's always light where it burns
Theea
