'Should I tell her now?' Leon stared at Lily's amber eyes, the goodbye he had to deliver lodging in his throat like a jagged stone. 'No, I can't change her happy mood.'
"Come here!" he said, forcing a playful growl, and grabbed her, tickling her on the sides.
Lily shrieked with laughter, squirming in his grip. 'She can't handle it. I can't let her know. She has to find out,' he screamed in his thoughts.
He giggled, tickling her relentlessly for another five minutes until both of them became breathless.
"It's time to go to sleep," he said, his heart heaving as he released her.
"I want to sleep by your side today," Lily stated, her face still shimmering with joy as she bounced on the mattress.
"Nah," Leon said, standing up. He playfully scooped her up and cradled her against his chest. "Okay, let's play a game."
"What game is that?" Lily asked, her expression shifting into curiosity. "Is it the game we used to play whenever Dad came back from work?"
