@trueluthor |Â Lena carefully smooths the paper, quadruple checking that there are *no* wrinkles in it. Sheâs only five and she knows that this isnât much but she wants to give it to her new mom. The picture of their familyâwith her mother holding her handâwas something she made in her art class and she had been *so* careful not to let the paint drip while it was drying. She finds her mother as soon as she gets home, practically bouncing with excitement. âThis is for you!â she says and hands her the paper.
Lillianâs still not used to the difference Lena makes in their household. It was always so dark and quiet, but wherever Lena goes she seems to bring light and energy with her, and she canât help the smile that curves her lips as the girl bounces into her office. âOh?â she says, placing down her pen and turning towards her, her brow raising as she takes in the paper Lena is holding out for her. âWhat do you have there?â
She takes it from her carefully, laying it flat on her desk, her fingers stilling as she takes in the scene. Her eyes widen, her throat constricting without warning, and she canât help how choked she sounds when she breathes, âoh, sweetheart⌠this is lovelyâ. She turns towards her again, and bends down, reaching out to pull the young girl into her arms and squeeze her in a gentle hug. âThank you. I love itâ.Â
Lena beams as her mom takes the pictures and hugs her back as hard as she can. These moments she has while Lex hasnât yet come home from school and their father is away and her mother is home are few and far between and Lena, even after less than a year living here, knows that these times are important. When Lex is home, Lena has to play with him. When their father is home, everything is different. The whole house, staff included, is on edge and Lena doesnât really understand why. Her father is always kind to her--always--and she knows that he loves her very much. She doesnât understand why Lex gets so upset so easily when heâs home or why their mother is so quiet. All she knows is that she likes her mom like this. When sheâs soft and happy and holding her.Â
âWe were supposed to paint something happy today,â Lena explains. âWhat our best day would be.â She had only added her father into the picture when her teacher asked about him but she put him at the edge, away from the other three.Â



















