The light of dawn filtered gently through the curtains, illuminating Elion's face. With a slow blink, he opened his eyes and found Hael curled up beside him, clutching the blanket tightly. Elion smiled to himself. He moved carefully, pulling away without waking him, and put on some clothes for the morning chill.
He went downstairs quietly and approached Stella's room. He opened the door slowly and peeked inside.
What he saw made him pause for a moment.
Althea was sitting in a chair next to the bed, and Stella was gently stroking the baby.
Stella looked up when she heard the door creak and smiled when she saw Elion.
—Come in — she said softly.
He entered, smiling.
—How are you feeling, Stella?
—Better… much better— she replied, her voice calm but warm—. Max has been more lively too.
Max raised his head as if he understood and let out a small, muffled bark.
Althea laughed softly and clapped her hands once.
—Max is so strong!! — she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Elion smiled at seeing them so cheerful.
—It seems so… I'm going to make some breakfast. I'm sure we're all hungry —he said, rubbing his hands together.
—Yes! I want bread! —Althea jumped up from her chair.
—I'll bring some —Elion assured her, leaving the room.
Shortly after, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs.
It was Hael, dragging his blanket as if it were a giant coat. His hair was so messy that it looked like he had cat ears.
—Good morning, Hael—said Stella, laughing softly.
—Mmm… good morning… —Hael mumbled, half asleep, rubbing his eyes.
—Are you looking for your brother? —asked Althea, leaning forward to get a better look at him.
Hael nodded, stumbling slightly.
—Elion went to make something for breakfast — Stella explained.
—Okay—said Hael, still sleepy.
Althea got up from her chair and, on impulse, went over to him. She smoothed his messy hair with her little hands.
—You're all disheveled —she said, laughing.
Hael frowned but didn't pull away.
—It doesn't matter… —he murmured.
—Yes, it does. Otherwise, you look like a pillow monster— Althea laughed.
Stella let out a soft laugh, and Hael just sighed resignedly.
A few minutes later, Elion returned with a tray loaded with ham sandwiches and cups of hot tea.
—Time to eat! —he announced, entering with a triumphant stride.
—Yum! —cried Althea, running over to grab one.
Hael also came over and took a sandwich while muttering:
—Wasn't there any cereal?
—I looked in the kitchen, but there was only the box, Hael —explained Elion, ruffling his hair—. I'll look for more this afternoon.
Everyone sat around the bed, eating together.
Max lay nearby, wagging his tail to the rhythm of the conversation.
—Hey, Hael... —Althea asked curiously —. Do you know how to cook?
Hael paused to take a bite of his sandwich, thinking about it.
—I know how to put cereal on a plate... —he said very seriously.
Everyone laughed, even Stella.
—That's not cooking! —exclaimed Althea, covering her mouth to keep from laughing harder.
—Then I don't know how to cook —admitted Hael with a shrug.
Laughter and small talk filled the room, making it feel warm and alive.
After finishing breakfast, Stella lay back down to rest a little longer.
Max, satisfied, curled up at her feet.
Meanwhile, Althea and Hael remained seated, exchanging knowing glances.
—Hey, Hael... —Althea whispered, leaning closer —. What if we help Elion make lunch later?
Hael tilted his head, thinking about it.
—Do you know how to cook? —he asked suspiciously.
Althea put on a very serious face, puffing out her cheeks a little.
—Sure! I know how to make sandwiches… and boil water!"
Hael raised an eyebrow, doubtful.
—That's not much.
—It's better than just putting cereal in a bowl! —protested Althea, crossing her arms.
Hael let out a low laugh.
—All right. Let's help.
Althea clapped her hands excitedly, and then they both tiptoed down to the first floor and entered the kitchen, where Elion was sorting dishes.
When he saw them appear, Elion smiled.
—What are you doing here, little ones?
Althea raised her hand as if she were in school.
—We're here to help, Mr. Cook!
Hael adjusted his blanket as if it were a makeshift apron.
—We're… your official assistants —he added, though a little embarrassed.
Elion laughed, putting the dishes aside.
—Really? That sounds great. Okay, assistants, we need potatoes, vegetables… and be very careful not to eat the ingredients before it's time.
Althea nodded so quickly that her hair ribbon almost fell out.
—Yes, chef!
After searching the small kitchen for a while, they gathered everything that was left in the pantry. Although the ingredients were already a little wilted, they could still be used.
—All right. —Elion announced with a smile —. Time to make lunch!
Althea and Hael, who were sitting nearby watching him, jumped up excitedly.
—What are we going to make? —asked Hael, coming over to look at the ingredients.
—Is it going to be something yummy? —added Althea, trembling with excitement.
—Of course —Elion laughed —. We're going to make a simple stew with vegetables and potatoes. We don't have any meat, but we'll make it delicious.
—I want to help! —Althea exclaimed, raising her hand as if she were in class.
—Me too! —Hael added.
Elion nodded happily.
—Perfect. Hael, you can peel the potatoes. Althea, you can wash the carrots.
Althea ran to find a small stool to reach the sink, while Hael concentrated on his task, frowning with a very serious expression.
—Potatoes peeled on a special mission! —said Hael, as he struggled a little with the peeler.
—Carrots cleaned, go! —continued Althea, leaving everything covered in tiny splashes of water.
Elion watched them fondly, guiding them patiently.
Sometimes he helped Hael finish peeling or Althea avoid getting wet.
—Can you imagine if we had a restaurant? —Elion joked as he stirred the stew in the pot—. You, Hael, would be the tough chef yelling in the kitchen, and you, Althea, would be the one greeting customers with a smile.
—I'd be the boss! —Althea laughed, raising her hands.
—And I'd be the one who eats everything —added Hael, earning a general laugh.
When the food was ready, they went up to Stella's room carrying a larger tray.
The warm aroma of the stew filled the hallway.
Stella, who was resting while petting Max, smiled when she saw them.
—What are you up to now? —she asked humorously.
—A special lunch for the best helpers! —announced Elion, setting the tray on the small table —. All made with a lot of effort.
—And love — added Althea, puffing out her chest with pride.
Stella chuckled softly, touched.
—Thank you, my little chefs.
They all settled around the bed and began to eat, sharing smiles and bites.
At one point, Elion raised his makeshift cup of tea.
—Shall we make a promise? —he suggested, looking at them all.
—What kind of promise? —asked Hael, curious.
—That no matter what happens, we will always help each other. Like now. Like family.
Althea nodded quickly.
—Promise!
—Promise —said Hael too, clasping his little fist with the others.
Stella, excited, stretched out her hand to join the circle.
— Promise — she whispered.
In the midst of a fallen world and wounds that would take time to heal, that promise felt like the strongest and truest bond.
After finishing lunch, Elion left the room to go back to the kitchen to wash the dishes, and Althea, still full of energy, had an idea.
— Let's draw! — she suggested, jumping out of her seat.
—Draw? — asked Hael, tilting his head.
—Yes! We can make drawings to decorate Stella's room — said Althea enthusiastically.
Stella smiled from her bed.
—That sounds lovely.
With her blessing, Althea and Hael went downstairs to the small living room. There, after rummaging through an old cupboard, they found a somewhat crumpled package of paper and some worn crayons.
—Look! —exclaimed Althea, holding them up like trophies.
—Great! —said Hael, looking for a good spot to sit down.
They settled down on the floor, using a low table as a support, and began to draw with all the concentration in the world.
Althea drew giant flowers and skies with many suns, while Hael drew small houses, trees, and a figure with pointed ears that he insisted was Max.
—This is Max —said Althea, showing him her drawing, very proudly.
—And this is you! —added Hael, showing her a smiling scribble of a girl.
They laughed together, forgetting the outside world for a moment.
After a while, Elion came down the stairs quietly.
He had gone to take a look from the windows on the upper floor… and what he had seen was not encouraging.
His expression was grim.
—Brother? —Hael asked when he saw him.
Elion forced a smile.
—What are you doing down here?
—We're drawing lots of things! —said Althea, running to show him her colorful paper—. Look, it's our happy home.
Elion bent down and took the drawing in his hands, his chest tightening at the innocence captured in every line.
—It's beautiful, Althea… —he murmured, stroking her head.
—Is something wrong? —asked Hael, frowning.
Elion was silent for a moment. Then, in a soft voice, he said:
—It's not safe to go out yet. There are many infected people outside. It's dangerous.
Althea lowered her head slightly, still holding her drawing. Elion saw her and leaned down to look into her eyes.
—But I promise you something —he added—. Tomorrow, if things look a little better... I'll try to go out. I'll find a way for you to communicate with Delma.
Althea's eyes lit up.
She knew it wasn't an empty promise, and even though it wouldn't be easy, she trusted him.
—Okay, Elion —she said with a small but firm smile—. I'll wait.
Elion ruffled her hair affectionately.
—You're very brave, you know that?
—I'm brave too! —dijo Hael, cruzándose de brazos, provocando una risa general.
—Yes, Hael, you are too—added Elion.
Althea sat back down at the table and picked up her crayon.
—So… let's keep drawing until we fill the whole room!
Elion, still feeling sad, smiled genuinely.
Yes. For now, that was enough.