Note: Originally published April 15th 2013 on tumblr.
Garry had no idea what to do when a little girl was crying.
Sure, he'd seen his share of crying girls – in high school, mostly, when their boyfriends dumped them or they were having a hard day in general, and he had done his best to cheer them up if he could – but a little girl? He had no clue.
And most of the time, the girls in school didn't just lose both of their parents.
"I-Ib, honey, it's okay, it's okay…"
The petite form in front of him was shaking with sobs. Her hands covered her crimson eyes, tears flowing over and underneath her slim fingers. His phone that was in her hands just moments before was lying on the floor, the screen cracked from when she flung it to the wall.
Garry tried to stop shaking. A car accident. One minute he and his young charge were playing Monopoly with a plate of macarons between them, the next, she stood shaking as she received the news that both of her parents were dead.
Ib had been given the phone when Garry thought it was a teacher. As he watched her eyes grow wide with terror and grief, he realized his mistake and tore it out of her hands just in time to hear the news.
"They died on impact. We found the woman's phone and dialed her first emergency number. I'm so sorry."
He had dropped it, honestly. In shock. She had picked it back up after a moment and threw it, as if destroying the messenger could render the message false. And now, here they were, a sobbing twelve-year old girl and a confused, fear-stricken adult man.
He couldn't believe what was happening. He awkwardly touched her arm, a delusional thought entering his head that the white shorts and red blouse weren't enough armor for her against such devastating news.
"I-Ib…sweetheart…I-I'm here…"
He gave a slight grunt as she barreled into his arms, her mouth opening in a wail as she pressed against his shoulder. The tears and spit and snot would've made him screw his face up in disgust, but…this was Ib. Ib was crying. His little sister, his closest companion.
He shook a little more at the thought that she was now his responsibility.
Just a year before, Ib's parents had named him her guardian in case anything happened to them. He would be given a sum of money to care for her and the rest would be kept until she was 18, at which point the rest would be given to her.
He felt hot tears sting his own eyes as he moved towards the couch, picking up the tiny girl and carrying her with him, holding her tighter than he had dared to before.
"Ib, Ib, I'm so sorry…"
She was still wailing and sobbing. It's normal, Garry reasoned, It's okay, she'll be okay…
He tried not thinking about how he'd have to change his life around, how he'd have to change her life around, in light of this disaster.
"Ib…I'm so sorry, Ib…"
He rubbed her chestnut hair gently, leaning his head back on the armrest as he let her cry it out on his chest.
They lay there for nearly an hour, Garry gently rocking the petite girl and hushing her as best he could.
Ib could finally speak, choked and exhausted. She looked up at her best friend's face, his dark grey-blue eyes pink-rimmed with tears as much as hers were.
"G-Garry…? W-what's going t-to happen to me…?"
As Garry stared into her crimson pools, he felt a flame rise up in his chest and arms. Protection, determination, fear…
He held her even closer to him, placing his lips on her head.
"Ib, I promise, I'm gonna take care of you. You won't ever have to be worried about that. I'm gonna love you and protect you and I swear I'll do everything I can, Ib, I swear…I promise I'll always be here for you, little rose, I promise."
She let out a sniffle and a choke as she lay her head back on his scrawny chest.
He hoped she didn't hear the shuddering breath he let out in relief. He would take care of her. No matter what. He would protect her, like she protected him in the gallery.
She wouldn't have to be afraid as long as he had anything to say about it.