Smallara

“Madison went over to Krysi’s house,” McKenzie said as she climbed the stairs. “Which means we have the place to ourselves for a change.”  Behind her, Chelsea Deetz laughed.  “Is…

Madison carried Cindy downstairs for dinner.  She did it with the confidence of someone who had already decided the visit was going well. Cindy could feel it in the steadiness…

“You wouldn’t have to leave Cindy,” Krysi said.  Madison looked at her.  The room was still soft from what had just happened. Madison’s eyes were damp, though she kept pretending they were…

Cindy felt sick.  Not suddenly. Not in a single wave. It gathered slowly as Madison and Krysi’s conversation softened into smaller things, into half jokes and unfinished sentences and the kind…

“You’re doing good, Madison,” Krysi said.  Madison kept looking down at Cindy, but her hand had gone still.  Krysi nudged Madison’s shoulder lightly with her own. “I mean it. You are.”  Madison…

“Mom, like, loves being my Little,” Madison said. She said it proudly, almost brightly, as if the sentence were proof of something all three of them should celebrate. Her finger…