To become strong

Dawn bloomed with gentle showers, made it a drizzly morning to the city of South Carolina.

Edwin woke up from his slumber, feeling weak already. Last night, he and Giselle both stayed up late, and the results are showing to his aged limbs. He needed a minute to stretch and relax before facing the new day.

**

Coming down after his morning rituals, he met with Giselle.

"You are up early-" Edwin said, but after a glance, his tone changed.

Giselle was still in her last night garments.

"You haven't slept at all?" he urged loudly.

Alarmed from the voice, Giselle saw Edwin and greeted him with a smile.

"I couldn't sleep even if my I try!" she responded, surprisingly with a bright face that Edwin found it worrisome.

"Ah, Edwin," Giselle called after seeing him lost alone in his space.

Edwin dropped his reflections and heard Giselle say that she is planning to leave today.

The mild showers are still pouring outside from the grey clouds on the day, yet Edwin heard roaring thunders hit, especially at his place, after listening to what Giselle state.

"What?" he asked.

"Why?" he stuttered to speak.

Upon Shane's request, Giselle visited Edwin to convince Lillian and make her return home. However, nothing related to it ever happened. Edwin recalled from previous conversations with Shane that Giselle could take days till weeks to accomplish her mission, yet this woman is saying that she would like to leave within a- without even spending an entire day.

"Staying here is not going to help me with Lia, Edwin," Giselle said

The incident from last night shook everyone, and it did not get resolved. Giselle stayed up all night and considered this to be a wise decision.

"Maybe, if we return to our home, then I can talk to Lia frankly," Giselle explained.

Her decision was fair and reasonable, which made Edwin reluctant to try to persuade or oppose her opinion. His face sulked momentarily to Giselle's notice.

"However-" she resumed.

"We are only leaving after breakfast, so please, Edwin, cook for us," she requested.

Edwin's cast lifted in good spirits. It took him a few seconds to accept Giselle's report. Considering the circumstances, this may be the fitting decision to practice.

Edwin felt sorry for his daughter, but at the same time, he also wished that the two could meet again.

"Edwin?" Giselle called again to disturb his solitary thoughts.

"I have two favors to ask of you-" she hesitantly asked.

"Of course," Edwin returned.

Giselle went ahead to place her to requests to Lillian's father, Edwin Grey.

***

Lia woke up with deadly hunger fangs eating her intestines in revenge for skipping her last night supper. Her stomach grumbled, cried, and made amusing noises to the child's suffering.

..

Lia came down after getting ready and saw her mother seated in the living room.

It was unlike any morning as the two would naturally cuddle for few minutes upon waking up, but right now, Lia refuses to go near her mother after encountering such shocking sights from last night. Lia also remembered her mother's endless struggle to talk to her yesterday night, but it ended up miserably failing after Lia chose to shun her.

Lia's intentions were not cruel, but the little child lives in a world only watching more of men and women make such gestures intimately, but to witness for the first time in her life, two women kissing, it scared Lia outright. Even now, seeing her mother, Lia shivered slightly from reliving the moment.

Unlike last time, Giselle did not dare to approach her child instantly, but waited in patience, watching her expression anxiously.

"Lia?"

As if a bolt of sharp lightning pierced the sky and landed on the ground, Lia escaped from the quivering state. She turned to meet the voice that called for her, rescued her from misery.

"Did you brush already?" Edwin asked.

Lia and Giselle exchanged glances while the child responded in positive to Edwin.

"Follow me then," Edwin signaled.

Lia hesitated in front of her mother's earnest presence, still trying to reach out to her.

The little one struggled between running into her mother's embrace or to stay away until she could no longer shiver- that way, Lia can try to move forward. To her disappointment, she chose to run away, not having the strength to confront. No matter how much she worked to convince herself, the horrifying sight she perceived, still intimidates her.

Lia stormed across the room to follow Edwin.

...

"What do you want to eat? Tell me, and I'll cook it for you," Edwin welcomed little Lia to his tidy kitchen.

One glance of the place, Lia is already fascinated by the view.

Nonetheless, the small fit she sought to display her displeasure still lingered on the surface, refusing to accept the gesture.

"No matter what happens, you have to eat. That's how you become strong," Edwin taught.

Lia admits to her starvation. Finally, giving up, her stomach let out of loud growling noise, embarrassing the little one to cover her tummy shyly.

"Come on, hop on to the seat and tell me what do you like to eat for breakfast," Edwin lifted Lia and put her on the tall stool.

Lia squirmed from the unexpected escalation.

Edwin then moved to his station, waiting for Lia to decide for the menu.

Lia looked around to find nothing on the countertop, no ingredients, or so. The kitchen looked clear to her eyes.

"Well, if you tell me what to eat, then you can see me cook it in front of your eyes," Edwin said.

"P- Pancakes-" Lia uttered belatedly.

Edwin's expression sulked from such a typical selection.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I can bake muffins and cook crepes-" he insisted on giving a wide range of options.

Lia stuck with her choice to eat pancakes regardless of the skilled cook's recommendations.

When he could convince her no more, Edwin moved to gather components to cook.

Seeing him work fast and precise like a magician, Lia got impressed.

"Mother used to make blueberry pancakes most of the time, and I love it!" Lia revealed on her own.

Edwin, who mixed the plain batter, got startled from the sudden knowledge. He quickly raced to the fridge and picked blueberries from the fruit rack. Lia flinched in surprise from observing the plain batter turn into color from the mix of berries.

Pan is hot already, and Edwin scooped a small size smooth batter and poured it on the heated bottom.

The batter's consistency was creamy yet fluffy from beating the egg whites into stiff peaks. Lia watched the mixture didn't move and formed a thick shape. When the base got cooked, and Edwin flipped it to the other side, it jiggled.

Without knowing, Lia danced to its journey. Matching to the bouncing animation, she couldn't stay still on her seat. She kept swaying until Edwin finished plating her blueberry pancakes with his favorite maple syrup.

The most typical breakfast and Edwin's preparation can easily top the charts.

"Here you go, dear," Edwin served her warm and fresh.

"Thank you," Lia said and took a bite of the fluffy, moist pancake.

The bursting flavor of blueberries melts at every bite. The pancake paired with sweet maple syrup got completely devoured at lightning speed by the little one.

Edwin needn't ask Lia for the review, for her eyes twinkled. Also, knowing that Lia did not eat last night, Edwin let her eat without a chat. He offered her for more, and Lia agreed with a blush.

"It is alright. I'll be happier if you eat a lot," Edwin replied and prepared more for Lia. He cherished to cook for her now. It feels the same when he used to do for his little Lillian Grey.

This time when Lia ate in silence, Edwin observed the girl.

"Lia?" he called once her hunger got lulled, and she began to eat like usual.

Lia looked up from eating.

Edwin chose whether to say or not. However, gritting his teeth, he decided to speak.

"Silence is always not a solution. It is better to express than hurting yourself."

Edwin thought of dozens of ways to encourage Lia, but in the end, he vaguely pointed his words at her.

Lia at first gawked at Edwin's wisdom words, but soon she knew what it meant for what happened last night. Lia didn't respond or so, and Edwin did not expect it as well.

The two returned to a secluded silence following his small talk.