Evermore || Connor Bedard

Chapter Five: Cowboy Like Me

As I go through my morning routine, the excitement bubbles up inside me at the thought of filming the Chicago Blackhawks family skate, especially since I'll get to take my siblings to it.

I start my day by brewing a strong cup of coffee, knowing I'll need the energy to capture all the action on the ice later. As I sip my coffee, I mentally prepare myself for the day ahead, thinking about the shots I want to get.

After finishing my coffee, I head to my wardrobe to pick out the perfect outfit for the occasion. I want to look professional yet comfortable, knowing I'll be moving around a lot with my camera. Finally settling on a pair of jeans, a cozy sweater, and my trusty camera bag, I feel ready to tackle the day.

Before leaving, I take a moment to glance at an old photo of Connor and me that his parents gave me while visiting. A smile spreads across my face as I remember all the fun we used to have together on the ice.

With my gear packed and a warm cup of coffee in my hand, I set off for the Chicago Blackhawks family skate, excited to capture every moment of the day.

As I approached my parents' house, I was lost in thought when suddenly a high-pitched voice interrupted my contemplation. "Sage!!" screamed Tommy, my youngest sibling, who ran towards me with his arms open wide. I couldn't help but smile as I embraced the little blonde boy. "Hey bud," I replied, hugging him back. Tommy is a precious addition to our family whom my parents adopted from their close family friend. They had taken care of him for almost a year before handing him over to us since they could no longer afford his anxiety medication. Despite still visiting them, he doesn't get to see them as often since we moved away.

Tommy's small arms tightened around my neck as he buried his face into my neck. "I missed you. Don't leave me," he pleaded. I gently patted his back, reassuring him that I wasn't leaving him anytime soon. "I'm not leaving, Toms. I've just been a little busy," I said, ruffling his hair.

As I tried to put Tommy down, I heard the garage door open and close with a thud. "Sage!!" yelled another one of my siblings. I glanced towards the source of the voice and saw my brother, Cylis, running towards me, beaming with excitement. "Hey, Cy," I greeted him, letting him slam into my legs. Cylis is the oldest of my younger siblings, just six years old, but already full of energy and enthusiasm.

I looked around and saw Iyker, my other younger brother, shyly peeking from behind the door. "Hey, Iky," I said, waving at him. Iyker is just five years old, but he's already quite mature for his age. He waved back at me, a small smile playing on his lips.

I felt a sense of warmth and happiness as I looked at my siblings. They are my world, and I would do anything to keep them happy and safe. I remembered that Ayla and Lyra, my albino twin sisters, weren't here with us as they were in Minnesota with my older brother Ryder. Nevertheless, I knew that we will all have a great time together at the family skate today.

As soon as I was pulled inside the house by both of them, I couldn't help but ask, "Where'd Iyker go?" With a worried expression on my face, I was eager to know his whereabouts. Tommy and Cylis exchanged a glance before Tommy spoke up, "He's upstairs, feeling upset." The concern in their eyes was palpable, and I knew something serious must have happened to make Iyker so distraught. said, picking his nails like he knew why but didn't want to tell me.

I crouched down to Tommy's level as Cylis closed the door behind us, wondering why he was upset. "What happened, Tommy?" I asked in a gentle tone.

"He told Iyker that he didn't like his outfit," Cylis replied, Tommy slams his butt on the marble floor pouting. I could see that he was feeling defensive as he explained himself.