HOME | DD

Description
She's sitting my lap, absently fondling with Wendy, as I braid her long light brown hair.

She's unusually quiet, and in the mirror I can see her little pink lips down in a frown.

"Loon?"

"Yes, Carmen?"

I momentarily pause in my braiding.

"What's wuv?"

I blink in surprise and look at her face in the mirror. Her eyes are practically boring into me, her face determined.

I chuckle and resume my braiding, keeping my eyes on her hair instead.

"What's funny?"

I tug lightly on a strange of her hair, making her pout.

"Have you already forgotten what love is, Carmen?"

Her face reddens.

"Course I haven't! I… need reminding."

"Well, I suppose everyone needs reminding every once in a while."

She gazes back up to me expectantly.

"Carmen, let us get this straight, everyone is loved."

Liar.

"Everyone is capable of being loved as well as feeling love."

Liar.

"Love is a wonderful thing that no one can really understand."

Liar.

"Love is when you feel strongly about someone or something. It's when you can't live
without them."

Her lips go into a perfect 'o' shape.

"Weally?"

She sounds so amazed.

"Like me an' Wendy? Does Wendy wuv me as much as I wuv her?"

I smile down comfortingly at her.

"Of course she does, Carmen."

Liar.

All of a sudden, she deflates. Her bottom lip quivers and she closes her eyes, shoulders slumping.

"Do Mommy and Daddy love us, Loon?"

I hesitate for a moment before responding.

"Of course they do, Carmen! Don't you ever forget it! They loved us more than anything."

Liar.

I finish her braid and shoo her off as she absorbs it all in.

Her feet pause before she walks out of the room.

"June?"

My eyes widen at the correct pronunciation of my name.

"Yes, Carmen?"

Her face is hidden to me.

"Do you wuv me?"