I told him I wanted to have a serious talk about us, and so he told me to come to the roof at nine after Layla was put to bed. I wore a tight black sweater and jeans. I wore my hair down, it was out of character for me but the roof was freezing at night.
Seeing the time I put down Layla's doll. She pouted immediately. I couldn't help but smile, which only deepened her frown.
"It's time for bed," I told her.
"I don't wanna."
"The dolls are sleepy."
She looked down at her dolls with sympathy before she ran to the bathroom to grab a towel and bring it to where she'd left them. She folded the towel into a makeshift bedroll with an almost pillow and put her dolls to bed. She kissed each one on the forehead and stood.
I followed her into her room and she crawled under the blankets. I tucked her in. I sat down beside her and rubbed her back. Her breathing slowed. I stayed there soothing her until her muscles turned to jelly. I bent and kissed her cheek before leaving.
