Eight year old David Rose squeezed his eyes shut tight as another clap of thunder sounded outside, bracing himself for the lightning to follow.
"David?" a tiny voice said from his doorway.
He opened one eye, glaring. "Go away".
"David". She sniffled as she padded across the carpet, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"What?" he almost snapped.
"Its storming". Her voice was small and shaky, and he reached out to brush her wild hair out of her face, feeling the tacky traces of tears on her cheek. "Can I stay in here?"
He'd been promised a brother. A brother called Alex. And instead, they'd brought her home, a little sister for him to look after. Alexis.
He'd have preferred a puppy.
"David?" she said again. "Please? Can I sleep with you?"
"Get in", he said finally, rolling over to make room for her. "Don't move around too much".
She curled up in a ball, clutching her raggedy teddy bear with both hands. David put a hand on her back, sighing heavily.
"It's okay, Alexis", he said quietly. "It's just a storm".
She sniffled in response, her cold feet resting on his thigh. He rubbed her back gently, in small circles, just like Adelina did when he was sick. She sniffled and wiggled and squirmed, and David held her tight until her hitched breathing evened out and slumber took over.
"It's just a storm", he said again, adjusting the blankets over his sleeping little sister.