Chapter 24
Serena rubbed her sore shoulders as she returned to the hotel
“Alyssa, sweetheart, open the door, okay? Just eat a little something, please.” It was Keith’s voice.
Serena’s heart clenched, and she hurried over. She saw Keith standing in front of the door, visibly arious, knocking again and again
“Mr. Brannon, what’s going on?” Serena asked.
“Alyssa locked herself in the room and won’t come out. She won’t eat either. Nothing I say is working” Keith rubbed his forehead.
Serena felt a pang of sympathy rise in her chest. “Let me try,” she said softly.
Keith remarked, “Alyssa’s a little emotionally unstable right now.”
Serena replied, “It’s okay. She and I got along pretty well before.”
She walked up to the door and gave it a gentle knock. “Alyssa, it’s me, Serena.”
There was silence inside, and Serena’s heart tensed up. “Alyssa, can you talk to me?” she inquired.
Alyssa was curled up in the corner of the room, clutching a stuffed animal tightly in her arms. She buried her face in its soft fur, trying hard to keep her tears from falling.
The knocking and Serena’s gentle voice comforted her but also made her feel even more hurt. She wanted to open the door, wanted to run into Serena’s arms, but she was scared.
After a long moment of hesitation, Alyssa slowly shuffled to the door. She reached out her small hand and gently turned the knob.
Seeing the door open, Serena let out a breath of relief. She crouched down to meet Alyssa at eye level.
“Alyssa, what’s wrong? Can you tell me?” Serena asked.
Alyssa still didn’t say a word, just pressed her lips tightly together.
Serena didn’t rush her and waited patiently. “Alyssa, are you feeling sad? Is that why you don’t want to eat?”
Alyssa kept her head down, remaining silent.
“Okay, you don’t have to eat. How about I play a game with you instead?” Serena said gently, smiling as she pulled a tiny stuffed toy out of her pocket. “Look, it’s a little bunny. It wants to play hide–and–seek with you.”
Alyssa looked at the little bunny in Serena’s hand, then looked up at Serena. After a moment of hesitation, Alyssa finally gave a
Serena held out the bunny and wiggled it in front of her. “The bunny’s going to hide now. Alyssa, can you find where it went?”
Alyssa’s eyes lit up as she reached out her tiny hands to search for the bunny. Serena took the chance to hide it behind her back.
Alyssa started feeling around Serena, trying to find the bunny. When Alyssa grabbed hold of it, she hugged it tightly against her chest.
“You’re amazing, Alyssa.” Serena praised her with a smile. “Now the bunny’s hungry. How about we feed it something?”
Alyssa nodded and picked up a small cookie to offer to the bunny.
“Chomp, chomp, the bunny’s full now. Alyssa, wanna take a bite too?” Serena brought a cookie up to Alyssa’s lips.
nod.
Alyssa hesitated for a second, then opened her mouth and took a small bite. Serena patiently fed her one bite at a time, until Alyssa finished a small bowl
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of oatmeal and a few snacks.
Keith stood nearby, watching Serena patiently coax Alyssa with such care, and something unfamiliar stirred in his chest. “Thank you, Ms. Gray”
“No need to thank me, Mr. Brannon. Children with autism need more patience and companionship. You should try to spend more time with her when you can,” Serena said.
ད་གy༡
Keith nodded. He knew Serena was right. He was always caught up in work, rarely spending time with Alyssa. And now she was enduring so much at
such a young age.
He silently walked over to Serena and gently placed his hand on Alyssa’s head, softly brushing her hair.
