Beyond Love

Silence before Storm

"Do you think I really get to see cupcakes again?"

I turned to her, taken aback by her words. "What do you mean, Giselle?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Doctor Susan is going to make me see cupcakes again, right?"

Unable to form a reply, I stared blankly in return. I wonder if Xander knows how strong his sister is? She knew it. All along.

"Chocolate Chip," Giselle squeezed my arm once more. "What's Disneyland?"

"O-oh! Disneyland. Um, it's a theme—"

"Do you think we can go together someday?" She spoke to the ground, kicking the gravel with her right shoe. "Us three."

I reassured her that we would, and that Xander and I would do our best to help her achieve that very dream of going to Disneyland. It made her pause with a frown.

"What if one of a princes fell in love with you?" She considered very seriously, as though trying to recall what someone told her about Disneyland. "Xandie would have to fight. He needs magic spells." I laughed, smoothing the loose strands of hair that had come undone by the wind.

"Xandie has magic spells of his own!" I attempted to explain. "He's very good at what he does."

Giselle squeezed my hand and laughed—so loud that the people across the street turned to stare. "To make you fall in love with he?"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "M-maybe."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alright Giselle, remember what Doctor Susan said—drink lots of water and remind Chocolate Chip to apply the cream only after you're done with your bath, okay?" Doctor Susan handed the girl a squishy toy bun that smelled like donuts, something like a stress ball. "Since we've changed your bandages, the area around your eyes might get a teeny bit itchy. Try not to scratch it, promise? When it's itchy, just squeeze the bun reeaally hard, okay?"

"Okay, okay," Giselle was squeezing the stress bun to her own delight regardless of whether or not her eyes were itchy. "Thank you Doctor Susan. For the squishy thing." Doctor Susan laughed, turning to me with a smile.

"Her body is doing well to recover for the surgery on Wednesday. Make sure she is well-hydrated until then," she double-checked Giselle's folder on her table. "I will see you both soon!"

"Thank you doctor," I bowed once before taking Giselle's free hand leading her towards the door. "O-oh, and um. On Wednesday, not just us but—"

"Ah, and your husband as well yes?" She finished with a laugh and I couldn't help but blush. "I will let the nurse know. Take care!" We waved back and took our leave, closing the door quietly behind.

Xander's sister tugged on my hand. "I'm hungry."

"What do you feel like eating?" I turned to the girl who was now almost my height, wondering if, for some reason, I looked like her younger brother. O-oh, that would be really weird wouldn't it. We greeted the nurses and doctors at the specialist section goodbye before heading down to the cafe downstairs.

"Japanese curry."

"That's quite a demand you have there," I pointed out with a laugh, and Giselle licked her lips in response. "How about we have omelette rice with Japanese curry in the evening? I'll be sure to put lots of carrots in since you have to be ready for Wednesday."