Parenting

"Deilu, could you go play outside, me and your friend are going to have a talk." Ron says to Deilu, with a warm smile on his face.

"Okkaiii!" She says as she runs outside with a plastic spoon.

I sigh and tell Ron how Deilu and I met and how we went to the police station and how I ended up here, he listens to every single detail.

"I see." He says with a sharp gaze. He looks at the ground, like he's thinking of something, then he asks, "Do you have any children, Rozale?"

"No, I live alone." I answer, slowly starting to sweat for whatever reason, which I don't know.

"Alright then. As you might know, I'm about to die soon, will you please take care of Deilu for me?" Ron says, with a warm, yet painful expression.

I hesitate to answer, but then Deilu's mother says, "You'll be doing both of us a great favor, please. We beg of you.."

I feel my guilt and anxiety rising, I think back to how I was alone. Without parents, a child is going to have a hard time growing up, especially in this environment.

"I'll do it.." I say whilst I clench my fist.

"Thank you." Both of them say.

We arrive at my place

"Deilu, be sure to go take a bath." I say whilst I grab my phone, I think to myself, "I need to call Nora and ask her what to do.."

"Okayy!" Deilu says whilst leisurely running towards the bathtub, "Uhm… Rozale, I dun knwow how to dwo thwis (I don't know how to do this)" She says whilst pointing at the white tub.

I show her how to turn it on and off and which ways she needs to put it for hot and cold water.

I call Nora and ask her what to do.

"So, It's alright? Yeah. Alright, I'll buy her the necessities. Anything else? Okay, I'll be sure to do so."

"Rozale!" Deilu yells out of the bathroom.

I run over, worried something might've happened. Then, I see her play with bubbles and swimming around, "She's so cute…" I think to myself. "Is something the matter?" I say to her.

She nods her head, "I wan gep ouk, am hungie (I want to get out, I'm hungry)"

"Alright then." I turn off the bath faucet and get her out of the tub, I dry her off, "Deilu, how about tomorrow, we go get you some new clothes?"

"Yesh!" She answers as she puts both of her hands up in excitement.

"Wait here." I go to my room to see if I have any clothes that will fit, I check the closet, drawers and cabinets. I find an old white, black stripped shirt and a very old tight boxer of mine, "I guess this works."

I bring the clothes over to her and help her put it all on.

We head to the living room and she sits on the couch, I turn on the television for her and she sits down and watches attentively, "Deilu, do you want to eat anything?"

She shakes her head in disagreement. I still go to the kitchen and make her a sandwich with ham, cheese and lettuce, "I can obviously hear your stomach grumbling" I say to myself. I place the sandwich next to the couch on the little brown wooden stand, "Eat up, you have to grow tons, alright?"

She nods her head with a happy, yet guilty expression, as she takes a bite of her sandwich, I sit next to her and watch the show with her.

A few hours later after watching the show.

"It's time for bed, Deilu."

She lazily walks over to my bedroom; she lays down on the bed and pulls the blanket over her.

"I'll be in the living room, alright" I say whilst I try to exit the room, but she holds my sleeve and shakes her head.

I sigh and nod, I sit next to her on the bed, while I read the book, "The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass"

"Papa.." I hear Deilu say in a soft, shallow and saddened tone, whilst letting out a tear. I check if she's asleep and she is. I pat her head gently, "Poor kid must've gone through a lot." I think to myself and leave out a hefty sigh, "I'll do my best, with the time that I have left."