ANASTASIA


    I sat beside Amie''s hospital bed,watching as her pencil moved deftly across the sketchbook. Her brows furrowed in concentration and her eyes shined with creativity.


    "I''m guessing that is us?" I pointed to her drawing of two caricature bearing semnce to both of us, minus the feet all pointing in one direction.


    "Yes, mommy. It''s us baking tasty cookies in the kitchen. I''m just about to add Aunt ra since she likes your cookies too. She stated without breaking her concentration.


    "And Dennis?"


    She paused, her pencil hovering over the sketchbook for a while before she shrugged and resumed sketching. "I will add him too. After Aunt ra anyway. I want to go home soon, mommy. It''s lonely here and smells awfully like drugs."


    I felt a bit of sadness, knowing I''d have to leave her soon. I have never been separated from her for as long as aplete day and now I was about to be apart from her for a week. A whole week! "Hey, baby, I need to talk to you about something." I began, trying to sound gentle.


    Amie looked up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What is it, Mommy?"


    I drew in a deep breath as I try to find the right words to use. "I have to go away for a few days. It has to do with mummy''s work. But it''s only going to be for a few days, are you okay with that?"


    I watched with more sadness as her face fell, she looked down at her sketchbook, twiddling the pencil in her grip and I knew then that her concentration was gone. "Leave the hospital? When can Ie home?"


    "Very soon, I promise." I felt a lump form in my throat as I reached out to smooth her hair. "But while I''m gone, you have to promise mommy that you will be a good girl and listen to the nurses, okay?" Amie''s lower lip trembled, and she looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I don''t like it here. I want to go home with you. Why can''t Ie with you for a few days? I promise to behave, please." There was a pout on her lips.


    My heart ached, and I pull her into a hug. "I know you do, sweetheart. But that is not going to be possible as you haven''t recovered. The nurses are going to take good care of you. And when Ie back, I''ll bring you lots of new toys and a big box of crayons. How does that sound?"


    Amie sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. Her expression brightened up a bit. "Can I have my pen instead?"


    My brows scrunched up as I tried to remember me getting her a pen. But I was unable toe up with anything. "Your pen? Where did you get that?"


    One of the nurses nearby chimed in, "Oh that, I think one of the visitors gave it to her."N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    I sighed, "Amie." It was a gentle rebuke and she knew it. That usual pout of hers appeared on her lips again


    I realized that this was one of the reasons I was especially hesitant to leave Amie. She was extremely


    friendly to the point of vulnerability and I didn''t want anything happening to her or worse. I also worried. about her getting into trouble because she had a mind of her own and could be a handful for the nurses. to deal with.


    "Amie, you have to promise me you''ll be good and not run off"


    She frowned, mumbling.


    "Use your words, youngdy." I applied a sterner tone.


    It


    "I said I promise to be good." She voiced out audibly with an even deeper pout. It broke me to see that on her face.


    "Look at me baby," I tugged her chin gently until we were looking into each other''s eyes. "I''ll call you every day on the tablet, so you better pick up when you see Mommy on your screen, okay? Take it easy on the nurses for thest time, please baby.


    She nodded her head again without a word even though I could see the unease in her expression. She didn''t want me to go; not like I hundred percent wanted to leave either. Leaning forward on the bed, I ced a gentle kiss on her forehead, a few more on her nose, eyes and cheeks as my fingers lightly tickled her belly. Then she broke intoughter that made my heart swell with warmth and joy.


    When she came down from herughing fit, she threw her arms around my neck, holding me down with a hug. "I''ll miss you. Come get me out of here fast." She added thest part in a whisper.