Chapter 30. Kindred Spirits

[Elise’s POV]

I stare down into Serenity’s face as she greedily sucks the bottle that I offer her while wishing that I could be so easily appeased. If only I were still a child who was oblivious to the viciousness and darkness of the world. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to live day to fucking day with all this pent-up rage and sorrow.

“She sure was hungry, wasn’t she?” Marty murmurs, kneeling down in front of me and poking at Serenity’s cheek. “Keep that up, and you’re gonna get chubby.”

“Let her be chubby.” I sigh, leaning back into the soft cushion of the seat I sit in. “She’s nothing more than a child. If she wants to be fat, let her be fat. If she wants to be afraid, let her be afraid. Soon enough, she is going to grow into an adult and begin to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders like the rest of us.”

Sure, I was being pessimistic, but after seeing that photo of my mother smiling so fucking happily with Denali, I couldn’t help it. All these damn