Her pupils were enormously dilated, two dark wells of drowsiness.
"What? It's me, sis!" He smiled, amused by her ridiculous sleepiness.
...
She had already passed out again, her body heavy. A line of drool gleamed at the corner of her mouth, soaking into the pillow.
Davi glanced beside her.
Near the headboard lay several crumpled wads of toilet paper, dry and speckled with small reddish stains.
"Maybe sis sneezed a lot...?"
He corrected himself. "No, she must have cried from the nightmare!"
Her phone rested on the blanket, a black, glossy surface. The screen lit up, pulsing with a new notification.
Davi's eyes landed on it: dozens of missed calls. He couldn't read the contact name, but a heart emoji ended the line.
"That annoying doctor..." Davi frowned, the memory of the demon who haunted her flashing in his mind.
A closer look revealed something metallic: A handleless razor blade lay carefully hidden at the corner of the bed, a silent companion to the blister packs.
Davi's mind raced. "Oh, it's just for shaving her mustache. All women do that at some point..."
"Ah... okay... sleep well!" He kissed her forehead gently, a final gesture of protection.
"Davi...?" She stirred again, her voice now just a thread, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Is... is it really you?" Her gaze was hazy.
"Yeah... man, sleep really hit you hard, huh?"
She studied him for a moment, then suddenly let out a muffled, genuine laugh.
"What a mess I am... You're not supposed to be here." She covered her face with her hands.
...
"You..." She touched his icy forehead. "You're freezing!" Ketlen grimaced with concern, a real reaction in the middle of chaos.
She moved her marked hand as far away as she could, using her uninjured arm to drag five thick blankets over them. The effort made her shake.
Davi nestled in, resting his head on her shoulder. Ketlen inhaled the scent of his child shampoo, a fragrance that carried her back to simpler times. She felt the urge to bury her face in his soft hair and cry, but the weight of her secret held her back.
"Go to sleep, brat." She gave the faintest smile, exhaustion winning, and kissed his forehead.
He turned and closed his eyes, finally feeling safe. He leaned his back against hers, seeking her protective warmth.
But she was cold.
"Why are you so cold?"
"It's the air conditioner, little brother." She forced a laugh, but the sound came out broken, shattering like glass.
He rolled back to face her, sensing something strange in the air. Instinctively, Ketlen hid her wounded wrist deep under the pillow.
"Are you okay...?" Davi placed his hand lightly on her chilled forehead.
"I'm fine, Davi." She blinked rapidly, far too fast, holding her breath to stay alert.
"Will you play with me tomorrow?"
Ketlen swallowed hard and only nodded. The sedatives were dragging her under, threatening to shut her down any second, but her heart pounded in panic. She needed to speak.
"Davi..." She squeezed her eyes shut, but a single heavy tear slipped free. "If I disappear one day, remember that I love you, okay?"
Davi wiped the tear with his thumb, smiling faintly.
"You promised you'd never leave me alone... I know no nightmare could ever stop you... you're strong and you've never been afraid of anything!" He leaned closer, his childlike sincerity piercing her. "I wish I could handle nightmares the way you do."
Ketlen clenched her eyes so tightly it hurt, a genuine, raw smile spreading across her face.
She pulled him into a hug so sudden and fierce he let out a small groan—not in pain, but in surprise. It was only so he wouldn't see her face collapsing in despair.
"I know. I promised... Now sleep, Davi."
...
"I love you, sis."
Ketlen swallowed her sob, biting her lips until she tasted metal.
"I love you too... hold me, I want to feel your warmth..." She closed her eyes, seeking refuge.
Davi's warmth was the sincerest, most genuine of the night, full of innocence and love. It was the only antidote to the cold corroding Ketlen.
On one side of the embrace, she held the frailest smile of the night, like a rose clinging to its hummingbird. She just didn't want him to leave.
On the other side of the embrace, Davi gave a weary smile, thinking:
"Now everything is fine... If anything shows up... she'll wake up and protect me right away."
Before closing his eyes, he looked up at the ceiling, where several stars shone. He spotted a tight cluster of four stars.
"That's Mom... Dad... me and you," he whispered.
He turned to his sister, but she had already drifted away again, distant, lost in the darkness.
-----------------☆☆☆☆-----------------
A few minutes passed, the only melody was Nunes's persistent crying on the floor. She looked at him, still sitting and sobbing, and put a hand to her forehead, almost regretting the wave of cruelty that had hit him.
"Hey!" Her voice sounded softer than expected, a tone of surrender.
He looked up, swollen eyes fixed on her.
"Do you promise that if I let you go, you'll behave?"