06-03-2025, 02:33 PM
Rachel watched, but wasn't really paying attention. Most of the kids except for two girls and the young man had gone to join in. Jared was introducing himself and getting their names in return. The young man approached her and sat down, close enough to be friendly, but far enough away that he didn't overwhelm her. Rachel had a feeling he remembered her, and was perhaps being cautious because he didn't want to spook her.
Still she worried he had caught her staring and was angry, but his voice was cordial and friendly as he introduced himself and the baby Lily. "I'm Rachel," she said, her voice soft and hesitant.
Her eyes went to the baby. She was so tiny. Rachel assumed she was fragile too. For some reason, that stoked the fear in her. She didn't understand it. She hated not being able to control it. It was why she was tired of fighting it. She wondered if Emily's baby would be this small, and if she would be able to even hold her own niece or nephew. What if she broke the baby?
But being around people made Rachel want to try - at least some of the time. "Ummm...she's really pretty," Rachel said after a long silence.
Still she worried he had caught her staring and was angry, but his voice was cordial and friendly as he introduced himself and the baby Lily. "I'm Rachel," she said, her voice soft and hesitant.
Her eyes went to the baby. She was so tiny. Rachel assumed she was fragile too. For some reason, that stoked the fear in her. She didn't understand it. She hated not being able to control it. It was why she was tired of fighting it. She wondered if Emily's baby would be this small, and if she would be able to even hold her own niece or nephew. What if she broke the baby?
But being around people made Rachel want to try - at least some of the time. "Ummm...she's really pretty," Rachel said after a long silence.