staying in my play-pretend
She still kisses my head at night, you know.
Xenophilius is concerned. He knows that losing Pandora was hard for Luna - he doesn't want to accept it either - but he worries that she does not even realize her mother is gone. She always speaks of her in the present tense - she does this, she says that.
Mummy isn't here, Luna. You know that.
But these words have no effect on her.
Some days Xenophilius just wants to go along with what Luna says. He misses Pandora, and he doesn't know how he is supposed to go on without her. He wishes he were as innocent as his daughter and could believe that she wasn't gone forever.
Maybe we should pick some flowers for her. She always loves it when we bring her flowers.
After a while, Xenophilius stops saying anything. He doesn't admit it to Luna, but he secretly appreciates the reminders she gives him – that one day, even if it's far off, he will see Pandora again. But he doesn't know how he will get by until then.
Both father and daughter will have to face reality eventually. It wouldn't be healthy for them to continue like this for too long. But the sting of losing someone so important is still fresh, and for now, it is easier to pretend.