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☼ ☾ ✩
𝟐𝟗... 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲
☼ ☾ ✩
I'm still smiling when I wake up the next morning, cuddled up in bed with my dogs, Vienna and Mason. Ever since the night when all my siblings slept in my room with Matt and I, the twins have made a habit of creeping in after they think I am asleep.
Matt loves me. Matthew Sturniolo is in love with me.
"You look happy."
I blink out of my daydream to see Vi smiling sleepily at me, her blonde hair resting on the pillow below her head like a halo. I smile back at my little sister and smooth her hair out of her face. "I am happy, sweetie."
"I'm glad. You deserve it." Vi yawns as she burrows deeper into the bed, and within seconds, she is fast asleep again.
I lean forehead to kiss her forehead before carefully shimmying out of bed, careful to not wake up Mason, who is curled up on the other side of me. Chandler and Joey peer at me curiously as I quietly slip out of my room, but they don't get up to follow, so I shut the door behind me. It's only six in the morning and they usually don't eat until seven, so they probably think I'm going to be right back. But I've been awake for a while, and I'm ready for coffee.
The house is quiet as I make my coffee, but the soft hum of cars on the main road nearby greets me as I step onto the front porch to enjoy the morning. The birds are chirping, the sun is rising, and my siblings are all fast asleep inside. I have a boy who loves me, and I love him more than I thought possible. What more could I ask for? I have so much to be thankful for. Yeah, life has thrown some curve balls at my family lately, but in the big picture, we are all so blessed. Life can be hard, but it's important to focus on the things we have to be grateful for. I think I forgot to focus on the good during the last couple months, but not anymore. Things will be different from here on out.
When I am down to my last sip of coffee, my phone rings beside me, startling me since do not disturb is still turned on. I reach down to put my mug on the floor beside the porch swing before picking up my phone. When I register the name flashing across the screen, my blood runs cold. Why is my social worker calling me at 6:30 in the morning?
"Hello?" I answer the call hesitantly, my voice seeming loud amongst the peaceful morning around me.
"Hey, Logan. It's Jakob."
Jakob has been my siblings and I's social worker ever since my parents died. He was there to support us when my uncle gained custody of us after the accident, and when I turned eighteen, Jakob helped me fight for guardianship. He's been a welcome presence in our lives, and my siblings all enjoy his bi-annual visits to check up on us, but he usually doesn't call me unless there is something that needs my immediate attention.
