Cruz:
She was asleep.
Dead asleep.
Her little body curled against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Head tucked under my chin.
Breathing slow and even.
One small hand fisted in the front of my shirt, like she didn’t want to let me go even in her dreams.
I sat there in the silence of her living room, barely breathing.
I didn't dare move.
Didn’t want to wake her.
Didn’t want to ruin this.
God help me, I didn’t deserve this.
Not her.
Not this softness.
But she was here anyway.
In my arms.
Trusting me.
Clinging to me.
It lit something up inside me that scared the s**t out of me.
A feeling I hadn't had since I was a kid — before the world chewed me up and spit me out.
I wrapped my arms tighter around her.
Careful. Gentle.
I could feel the faint thud of he
