Pushing open the room door, Joshua Sulliven walked in quietly. Classmate Howard was already asleep in the bed, occasionally letting out a soft snore, while Tristan Leaf looked up in Joshua's direction, his eyes rimmed with thin layers of water mist.
Joshua's heart softened, and his gaze became gentler as he spoke softly, "Scared?"
At those words, Tristan lowered his head, staring at Grandpa Turtle on the table without making a sound, the water mist in his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Joshua walked over, gently picked him up, and then took him out of the cabin, onto the deck, "Don't be afraid, daddy's here."
Tristan wiped away his tears with his sleeves and buried his head in Joshua's shoulder, speaking in a muffled voice, "Will daddy abandon mom?"
Joshua gently patted his head, "No, daddy will always protect you and mom."
"What about Aunt Ugly?"
"Thrown into the sea to feed the fish."
"Will she die?"
"Daddy doesn't know."
