Chapter 489

September 13th – Clear skies

Mood: Awful

The chubby kid next door tried to bribe me with a “snack mega–pack” if I’d hand over my little sister. I told him to get lost.

Max snapped his journal shut and glanced over at little Alessia, already fast asleep.

How could she sleep so soundly when he was this upset?

A strange itch prickled at his fingers. Unable to resist, he walked over to Alessia’s bed and gave her cheek a gentle pinch.

Her face was still full of baby fat–plump and soft, perfect for squishing.

Max couldn’t help himself, pinching again and again until, inevitably, he

disturbed her.

Their eyes met. Max quickly wiped the smile off his face and pulled his hand away.

At first, Alessia looked startled. But as soon as she recognized him, she relaxed, her eyes fluttering as if she might drift right back to sleep.

her dazed and drowsy, Max found himself slipping into old habits–patting her back, just like he used to when she was little and

a

for you,” he muttered, giving her cheek one last squeeze. He dug out

start elementary school. Yvonne and Scott’s

before they even moved in, they sent their son off to boarding school. Rumor had it he was bound for

Yvonne and Scott seemed far more

to some fancy boarding school. He had only

a kid. He

he’d feared, his sister started growing up while he was gone. When kids picked on her, she didn’t need

she no longer curled up at

was smart–picked things up after being shown only once. She could read

feel proud. She really was his little

was an ache in his

even need

they moved into a much larger house, and Max’s visits home became less frequent. As if desperate for

Then Cole showed up.

no little kid running out to greet him, hands on hips, yelling,

how cold

away, did Alessia spend all her time alone in that enormous place? Eating alone, watching

even have anyone to

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