It's just because our days are being numbered until that time.
That next afternoon we heard on the news that Ly Li was dead.
He was holding his hands in mine and she was curled up alone, eyes fixed to the screen when it showed Ly Li's mangled body with blood and broken bones all over her. A graphic warning didn't stop us from looking away.
They said it was a horrible, tragic accident.
I reached and brought Irina into my arms, and his were then around us both, and I said, "It's going to be alright."
And she said, "Isn't it?"
What kind of question was that?
What kind of question is that to ask?
In response to my comfort you say something like that.
I only hold her tighter.
The video keeps going on; it was such an unexpected thing, but even the most serious people can be careless when under such stress, to fall like that. She fell off a cliff and broke her neck, it was a painless death.
Isn't it only the more horrible to say something like that?
If someone were to die and not even realize it, precisely because it was painless, it's a frightening thought to me.
"Irta Li is conducting an investigation into the death of his daughter, but as it stands it's an open and shut case of negligence...the managers of the tourist site..."
Kiril shut the news off. He was fidgeting with his glasses in that moment, "Maybe if we—don't—listening to that isn't—going to change anything."
"Yes, brother." Irina buried her head in me and closed her eyes tight. I could feel her shaking in my arms—it was foolish for me to think she meant anything sinister when she said...
Now it's too quiet, though.
Irina's eyes opened again and looked at the black screen. "Do you think Milky...?"
"I have work to do when the shop opens again, so maybe you could make us dinner, sister?" Kiril had gotten up, letting go of us, and was stretching as though it would soothe his clear trembling.
Irina got up too and nodded, "Yeah. Will you come help me in the kitchen, big sister?"
"No thanks~." I yawned and stretched and she glared at me. "I'm not hungry right now."
"Is it because you're fat?"
I shot up, "Just for that, I'm making dinner!"
"Big sister's trying to kill us all!"
I laughed, but from the doorway Kiril was looking at us both with such a horrified expression, as though we were both madwomen. The TV had only just turned off a minute ago.
We both smiled deviously, like madwomen, and he gave a sheepish squeak before fleeing to the workroom.
Dinner was beef stroganoff, by the efforts of myself and Irina, and it was quite good. Everyone had a second helping and the news started to filter out of this house, little by little.
But afterwards I had to wonder;
Do I think Milky what?
That she was watching this news too? Do I think Milky knows? Or, no...
That she had...?
Of course, it was crossing my mind even now. There were only three of us left; although surely trouble came from those who supported any one of us, it was also surely possible that, of those two...
My sister...and Milky...
When I think about it, my heartbeat rises and I don't know what to do, so I just don't think about it. I'm scared and I need them both, my loved one and my little sister-in-law.