07-15-2016, 03:49 PM
Ah, my Mari girl. She wraps herself around me, plays with my hair, and I grin as she rubs her cheek against my neck and lips at me. “Hello, love,” I reply, returning her affectionate gestures with a few of my own. I play with her forelock, so long and silky now where it used to be fine, fluffy baby hair. I press a kiss to her cheek, brush the soft of my nose down the curve of her neck. “It's so good to see you, rainbow-girl. I've missed you too.”
I love the unrestrained joy lighting her pretty blue eyes, the way she lights up when she pulls away to look me over. She's outgrown me, a little taller than me. Gently curved where I am slim and lean. All grown up and lovely, when did that happen? Well, not the lovely part, that was always the case. But when I think of Mari I still see that bouncy, delighted little girl I first met, her whole body practically vibrating with excitement as she met her brand new brother like Mom brought me home as a special surprise just for her.
For the first time I see a hint of worry clouding those soft blue eyes, just a shadow of a frown on her lips. “Of course we have each other, love,” I reassure her, pressing my lips to her forehead. “That's not going to change, either, no matter where life takes us. You'll always be my rainbow-girl, yeah?” I smile and wrap her up in another hug, and my heart hurts just a little that she's been feeling lonely. “Always.”
I know that quiet yearning, just as well as I know the determined smile that hides it. “Oh, sweetheart,” I murmur, stroking my muzzle along her silky white hair. “It's okay, I'm here. Talk to me, huh, angel?” I know what it's like to feel alone, even surrounded by people who love you. I've never seen even a flash of that sad vulnerability in her before, and it melts my heart now.
I love the unrestrained joy lighting her pretty blue eyes, the way she lights up when she pulls away to look me over. She's outgrown me, a little taller than me. Gently curved where I am slim and lean. All grown up and lovely, when did that happen? Well, not the lovely part, that was always the case. But when I think of Mari I still see that bouncy, delighted little girl I first met, her whole body practically vibrating with excitement as she met her brand new brother like Mom brought me home as a special surprise just for her.
For the first time I see a hint of worry clouding those soft blue eyes, just a shadow of a frown on her lips. “Of course we have each other, love,” I reassure her, pressing my lips to her forehead. “That's not going to change, either, no matter where life takes us. You'll always be my rainbow-girl, yeah?” I smile and wrap her up in another hug, and my heart hurts just a little that she's been feeling lonely. “Always.”
I know that quiet yearning, just as well as I know the determined smile that hides it. “Oh, sweetheart,” I murmur, stroking my muzzle along her silky white hair. “It's okay, I'm here. Talk to me, huh, angel?” I know what it's like to feel alone, even surrounded by people who love you. I've never seen even a flash of that sad vulnerability in her before, and it melts my heart now.