"Will you guys be back, Cyrus?" Sunny asked.
"I'm sorry, John," she replied, "we're going. Our mom found a new guy and she doesn't want to be anywhere near your Dad."
"Will I ever see you guys again? Will we ever be able to have our chess matches again? What about movie night?"
"...I don't know..."
They sat there in silence, under the beautiful greenery of the meadow beneath a creamy blue sky. It would've been appreciable under different circumstances. Sunny hugged her, and she did not resist. Tears stained his sister's Eddie Bauer shirt, and she continued holding him in her warmth.
"I love you—Serena, too."
"We love you, too, Jonathan."
Sunny would not recount this moment of weakness to his Mom—any trace of it would get him the worst of her physical punishments.
"I don't wanna go back, Cyrus," Sunny's voice was muffled, "she beats me."
"She won't for much longer. JUst hold out for us."