Chilli couldn't sleep. Next to her, Bandit snored peacefully.
It has happened just as Brandy predicted.
Once she was gone, Bandit went to her, kissed her and comforted her till she stopped crying.
Afterwards, Bluey and Bingo had been the balm her aching heart needed.
Now, however, in the middle of the night, she couldn't help but go over and over today's fight.
She groaned inwardly.
If Brandy had merely refused her intention to help her, that wouldn't be hurtful... yet she has expressly refused the most important thing in the whole world to her: the love of her daughters.
Perhaps she had said some hurtful things to Brandy, too, but what she had said in return was just too much for her.
It had hurt her deeply.
She sighed.
It was like a nightmare, because she truly loved her sister... and the feeling of her and Brandy drifting apart hurt so much that it was almost a physical pain.
How on earth did this happen? she thought.
She turned so she could snuggle deeply into Bandits embrace, hoping to get some sleep... after all, one of the girls might wake up and she needed energy.
--
Mort sighed into the night... "Please Saffy...I need to sleep", he pleaded while wiping away a tear.
For one month now, every night it was the same. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her in her hospital bed, so frail, so tired... fading away...
Every time he closed his eyes, he could smell death surrounding her, claiming her, her last breath, her luminous eyes closing to never open again.
And whenever he could catch some sleep, he got the most horrendous dreams, about her...about their daughters...
He shivered, not even war had left him so helpless and frighten.
War had not broken him; Saffron death had.
I need some sleep please..., he thought.
And as if following a cue, Chilli appeared at the door of his room.
She looked so sad and ...embarrassed?
"Dad..."
He smiled bravely, hoping that the inquisitive ten-year-old couldn't guess his true emotions.
"Whats up Chilli dog?"
Tears came to her eyes and sniffed. "... I... I wet my bed..."
"Oh... Cmon here", he said opening his arms to her.
Chilli ran and buried herself on her fathers embrace.
"I'm sorry... This didn't happen to me since...dont remember!", she hiccupped.
"Since you was five years old... yet don't worry about it, little mate... accidents happen!"
She looked at him with gratitude in her big, bright eyes.
"Have you already cleaned yourself?"
"Yeah dad"
"Ok, then let me take care of your bed... wanna stay with me for the night kiddo?"
"I would like to spend the night with Brandy if she is ok with it..."
"Ok"
Mort smiled while Chilli went to her sisters room almost running, he was proud of these two and the love they shared for each other.
Now to clean Chillis bed, he thought. If she wasn't going to be able to sleep, any distraction was welcome.
--
Brandy breathed deep. Once, twice, three times.
She looked at the ceiling... it was no use, she couldn't sleep.
What have I done? ... she moaned.
Is Chilli right? Im isolating away from everyone?
I never call anyone, not even Dad... it is he who always calls me. Now I cant even call Chilli...
She whimpered... Oh Chilli! she had said such a hurtful thing to her! Yet... it was true.
She sighed.
I don't want to be near to my nieces... its so … sad... Whenever I play with Bluey or hold Bingo, they remind me of the ever-present emptiness in my lap, when they return to their parents it reminds me of what Im missing... I don't want, I don't need to be reminded of that pain!
She curled up in a ball, holding the blankets near her.
...Yet I need my sister...
--
I need my sister! was all that little Chilli thought as she left her fathers room.
Brandy awoke at the sound of her sisters footsteps.
She sat up, immediately alert. "Hey Chilli?"
"Can I sleep with you?", the little one asked with pleading eyes.
"Uh? Ok... no problem"
Chilli smiled gratefully and climbed into the bed. Soon she was snuggling deeply into her sisters fur, both of them warm and cozy.
Brandy smiled; she could feel Chillis tail thumping between the blankets.
She wondered why her sister had decided to sleep with her that night.
Suddenly Chilli sniffed her fur, breathing deeply.
"Hey! Stop it", she chuckled "you are tickling me!"
"...Brandy..."
"What..."
"You smell like Mum"
She hugged her tighter, almost squeezing the younger pup, a teary smile in her face.
Brandy kissed the top of her little sisters head.
Yeah, Mum was gone, but she still got Chilli.
"I promise I will always care for you, Chilli, I love you"
"I promise I will always love you, Brandy".
