"Where are mommy and daddy?" Aunt Monica lifted med up and kissed the top of my head. "Aren't they coming back soon?" She sobbed, and I could see Uncle Chandler move closer in the corner of my eye. I played with a strand of my aunt's hair and tried to ignore her crying. Everybody was crying today – nobody would tell me why. "I want to go play."
"Okay, sweetie," Monica said and put me down. She darted across the room to get a tissue, and Aunt Phoebe was quick to follow. "I can't believe they're gone!" Monica sobbed. Aunt Phoebe put her arms around her. My usually so strong aunt wept like a child. Uncle Chandler put a hand on my shoulder and led me out of the room. I looked back and saw Uncle Joey take some of Monica's weight of Phoebe; Monica's reaction was near to none. She looked like a life-less doll.
"We should put her on the couch," Phoebe mumbled. Uncle Chandler closed the door in front of my eyes.
"What would you like to play?" he asked me in a cheerful voice and sat down on the bed of his and Monica's guestroom.
"Truth or dare," I answered him. His expression looked slightly bewildered, but he nodded in agreement.
"Truth or dare it is," he said and smiled at me. "Do you want to start?"
"Yes. Truth or dare, Uncle Chandler?"
"Dare."
"Pick truth."
"Truth." I realized then I had the ability to make people around me do what I wanted them to. In my head I wondered if it had anything to do with mommy and daddy, if it would last forever or only until they got back.
"Where are mommy and daddy?" Uncle Chandler looked almost sick with pain. I tried to see where he was hurt, but I couldn't find any cuts or bruises. "Did you hurt yourself, Uncle Chandler? You look like you hurt yourself."
"Yes," Chandler said with a great sadness in his eyes. "I am hurt."
"Where? Is it a big bruise?"
"It's the biggest bruise ever, but you can't see it. It's on the inside."