Shima sat quietly beside Jahree, watching him play with his bunny. Though she tried to put on a brave face, she couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of concern for the boy. He had stopped sleeping and eating much, and though he had begun to open up to her, he had suddenly stopped. She wondered if something had happened with one of the kids he played with, but when she asked him, he denied it. She thought perhaps he was too afraid to speak up, so she considered whether to talk to the kids or their foster mother. In addition to her worries about Jahree’s emotional state, Shima also wondered if he might be getting sick. The local healers were unfamiliar to her, and she wasn’t sure how Jahree would react to medical treatment after all he had been through. Despite her concerns, she knew she had to keep a watchful eye on him and make sure he received the care he needed. She planned to talk to Willin later that night to see if he had any suggestions. As she sat there, Shima’s thoughts turned to the financial burden of medical care. She was feeling unwell herself, with worsening chills and fatigue. She knew they couldn’t afford to pay for two medical bills, but if Jahree was sick, they would have the healer look at him first. After all, he deserved every opportunity to recover from his traumatic past. Shima took a moment to rest before getting back to her painting job. She was grateful that the landlord was pleased with her work and had even suggested she could paint his other properties once they finished this house. He had also offered to let her bring Jahree along if he wasn’t in school. The extra money would be a welcome relief, but Shima couldn’t help but worry about how she would find the energy to keep up. As she worked, another thought crossed her mind - what if she was pregnant again? She wondered how they would afford another child, especially with all of Jahree’s needs. At least this child would be safe from the Borough, she thought to herself. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push away her worries and focus on the present. “Mama, hungry,” Jahree stated, his voice tinged with the innocent demand of youth. “Already?” His mother replied with a note of surprise. Her eyes widened as she scanned him from head to toe; he was entirely splattered with paint. “Goodness, what on earth did you do?” A beaming smile spread across Jahree’s face as he puffed his chest out with pride. “I helped,” he declared, gesturing towards the freshly painted wall. It was now covered in paint from waist level downwards. His mother realized she must have slipped into an unintentional nap, though she couldn’t fathom for how long she had surrendered to slumber. She approached the wall, examining Jahree’s handiwork with a critical but affectionate eye. The strokes were haphazard but there were no runs. Admittedly, it wasn’t half bad for a child. She could fix it up. “Mama, hungry,” Jahree repeated, hoping to recapture her attention. “All right, let’s get you cleaned up first. You did a good job here,” she assured him, her voice tinged with the warmth of appreciation for his endeavor. “You tired,” he observed, exaggerating a yawn followed by a playful imitation of her snoring. “I was,” she admitted with a laugh, ruffling his colorful hair affectionately. In the background, the bells began to chime, their sonorous rings echoing through the streets. She paused to count each toll - one, two, three, four. Four bells signaled four hours past the midday zenith. “Oh, Brother’s bother. It’s later than I thought. Rather than a snack, let me make dinner,” she mused aloud. Jahree’s eyes lit up. “I help?” His mother nodded, her fatigue momentarily forgotten in the wake of his enthusiasm. “Of course, my little assistant,” she said with a smile. “You can help keep me awake and on my toes.” Together, they headed towards the kitchen, a messy but content duo ready to turn their next shared activity into another loving memory.