Gone

I knew his posture. I’d seen him take it when he was doing things which he felt like were his duty.

Don’t go. It was all I could think. Whimpering as I watched them. Catching BailaLae’s wrist and hanging on with planted feet until she had to tug me loose.

Aviari caught her shoulders and turned her away from me, even though I could hear her sobbing.

“She’ll be okay.” He told her.

But it seemed like Aviari’s larger than life personality waned in that moment and we all knew he wasn’t wholly certain.

He’d sounded scared.

Then mom and dad had gotten home. Both of them cut and badly beaten. It was long after the little boys had already gone to bed.

They’d told our older siblings goodbye upstairs. While they followed them around. Tossing out their clothes as they tried to pack them. Begging them to stay.

For the first time, I wondered at how hard it must&rsq