Ouroboros Spine qitunġaġiit

'Take," she tried to say 'me', but her lips failed to move, "wid you, Aaba." She did not know what to do with herself, and only sat wobbly as her aapa dried her tears with each finger upon his pads. With the bottom of her feet very cold, and her nose so very warm. Stared in numb wait, as she wondered what she was supposed to do without him.

Why, he said he would come back. Nutu believed it. Why, Aapa never lied. Aapa did as he said he would, and she knew this was not goodbye, but it was a change she was not ready for. Who else was supposed to sit with her at night? And sing songs, and tell bedtime stories? Aaka was very busy with her own Aaka and family. Aapa was always there.

Tautukpik and her would have to try again, with more food. More gifts. More something, or anything that Aapa might like, because she no longer knew what else to do. One day, they would be enough for Aapa to want to stay.

Aaka needed him. Didn't he know that? How else were they supposed to be their mommy and daddy when they were apart?

Before her words gave up, she reached for a final hug and collapsed there. Unmoving, and only because she forgot how to. Even the smallest goodbyes upset his daughter, and this one? Aapa never said when he would be back, but she would wait every day for him. His word was his word, and it was his word now, too, when he said 'go on'. Sluggishly slipping from him, the sniffles tried to slow, and for a moment, she curled with Nantahala before leaving to her brother and sister.