My Sunlight

Soleil

It takes a little longer for her to cry herself out, but once she has she pulls her arms back in to fold between their chests, cradled like a much younger child than her current age. Soleil doesn’t care - so long as he can hold her, she will ask him to. She never wants to be parted from him again. Tired out by the sudden expulsion of what feels like every emotion ever made from her body, Soleil rests her cheek on her father’s shoulder, eyes half-lidded and cheeks ruddy with color from tears and exertion.

“At the Halenani. Miss Maeve found us, so we’ve been there with Paige.” Sah likely doesn’t even know the girl, but Soleil’s world for the past season has been filled with nothing but the Halenani and the brave girl who also lives there. It would feel wrong not to mention her.

She melts into the hands rubbing her shoulders gently, limp in Sah’s arms as he carries her. “Will they like me?” she asks nervously, whispered like a secret into his shoulder as she recalls cruel merchants and older children who would shout when she bit them. Surely her dad won’t leave her if they don’t, but until she ended up in Caido Soleil had never had to worry about fitting in or belonging somewhere. Now it’s all she can think about. “Is mommy here? Or mama?” Tentative hope in her voice as she looks up at him.

the day will be whatever you make it
so rise like the sun and shine