Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Finally, I rise and carry her to the stroller. I haven’t taken her out of the house yet, and she stiffens when I settle her into the seat. Her heart rate picks up as I pull the straps over her arms and adjust them around her torso.
I tug the blanket free and set it aside, making her whimper and reach out for it. She says nothing. She’s still suckling the pacifier, but I know what she wants.
“Let me get you strapped in, and then you can have it back.”
She sighs and settles, seemingly resigned.
I lock the five-point harness, making sure the straps surround her breasts properly. I don’t want her skin to get pinched. Her breath hitches and she stiffens when I tighten the strap between her legs. That’s probably a good sign.
I know she likes it when I restrain her. Her pulse picks up every time I change her diaper or even when I hold her hands out of the way while I feed her. I’m pleased by her reaction to the harness in the stroller.
I lean over and kiss her forehead as I tuck her blankie around her and settle the ribbon that holds her pacifier around her neck. “It’s not far. We’re going to walk to the clinic. You need the fresh air anyway.” I grab her diaper bag and fasten it to the back of the stroller before pushing her from the house and out into the sunshine.
I’ve taken her to the backyard nearly every day for a while, but she hasn’t seemed interested in the beauty. I assume she’s silently lying. I watch her face as she looks around. She tries to hide her exploration by only moving her eyes and not her head, but she knows her surroundings.
I want to see her smile. I want her to be happy. I want her to run and play. I want to take her to the park where she can swing and meet other Little girls. I long for all of this.
I’ve spoken to both Chadka and Thabo on the phone a few times when she’s been sleeping. They’ve both assured me she will get through this. Intellectually I know she will. One way or another. If she doesn’t choose to rejoin life, I will be forced to choose for her by nicking her skin and loading her with enough serum to force her to care.
I’d rather not resort to that kind of manipulation, but I will if I need to.
The day is gorgeous. All days are gorgeous here. I breathe much easier now that we’re back on Eleadia. The atmosphere on Earth is poor. There may have been a time centuries ago when the air was cleaner, the sky brighter, the colors more vibrant, but humans have been destructive to their planet.
What’s most alarming is that they know their actions and decisions are ruining their planet, but they are selfish creatures who don’t care and continue to abuse their resources.
Part of our arrangement with Earth has been educating them on methods they could use to improve or even reverse some of the damage. We provide this in exchange for the privilege of finding and returning with a mate.
I learned that humans have an expression that’s most fitting. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. This is the problem with humans. Only a handful are willing and eager to do the work to save their planet. The majority are uninterested and stand next to the water ignoring it while dying of thirst.
It makes me cringe, but I don’t live there, and I certainly can’t stop stupid.
I left us plenty of time to get to the clinic, so I walk slowly, letting Kendra see the world she lives in. I slow my gait significantly when we pass the park, grateful there are several Little girls laughing, running, and playing under their Papis’ supervision.
I can’t see her face, but it doesn’t matter. Whatever her reaction is, I’m certain she would hide it from me and probably did the weird eye thing where she looks without turning her head.
It’s not until we reach the clinic and I turn the stroller toward the entrance that she stiffens. I can feel the anxiety rolling off her. She frantically sucks her pacifier.
When we enter, there are three Little girls in the waiting room. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Kendra tenses further, but maybe she needs the exposure.
I’m going to have to wing it and see how she reacts. I’m grateful that our connection—as pitiful as it currently is—helps me read her emotions.
The receptionist, Jeikin, glances up at me as we step all the way inside. “Hey, Bialar. Good to see you. You’ll be seeing Chadka today. We’re running a bit behind. I hope you don’t mind waiting.”