LITTLE PINK LION

The sky darkened, rain threatening the landscape below it. Inside the house, a young child sat at the top of the steps. Their pjs just slightly too big, their hair a complete mess. Their parents were at the bottom of said steps, neither paying much attention to the younger. Their lovey, a little stuffed pink lion, laid at their feet with its nose long gone. In its place were makeshift whiskers, pulled apart by the child as the years went on. A small stain covered the left back leg, a bruise as the child called it. Its eyes fixated on the child, dark and dull.

The child glanced behind them; their bedroom door cracked opened. The nightlight barely reached them, its light dim.

“Is there a reason I came home to so many packages?” their father asked, his voice heavy.

The child spun around, eyes glancing between the adults at the bottom of the steps. Their breathing hitched, their hand clenching their pant leg.

“It’s just a few things we needed, it’s not that big of a deal,” their mother replied, pushing past the father.

“We’re barely able to pay the bills as it is, we don’t need more junk,” the father said, his voice harsh.

“It’s not junk,” she said, picking up one of the boxes. “It’s things we can use-“

“That we don’t need in the long run. Why can’t you stop spending?” he yelled, going out of view.

The child sprang up, tip toeing down the steps. Their parents were in the kitchen, boxes scattered across the floor. The light flickered above, dimming once it settled down.

“It’s late, can we just please go to bed?” the child asked, hidden behind the doorframe.

“Go back upstairs please, we’ll be up in a little,” their mother said, her voice gentle.

The child nodded their head, ducking back up the steps. When their parents didn’t follow suit, they sat back on the step. What felt like hours drifting by, as each tick of the clock sounded, only a few minutes truly had gone by.

The child sighed, glancing back at their room only to find someone staring back at them. Their little sister stood there, her eyes heavy with sleep, her little hands rubbing her tired eyes.

“What are you doing up?” the eldest asked, walking over to the little girl.

The little girl pointed to the steps, her eyes wide, her other hand in a fist. She glanced at her older sibling, lips pouting. A gentle shake in the little girl’s frame was all it took.

“They’re just talking. C’mon, it’s late,” the eldest said, gently taking her hand.

The eldest gently guided the little girl to her bed, helping her climb back into it. The little girl laid down, allowing her older sibling to pull the covers up. She sighed, burying back into the warmth of her bed.

“Can’t forget snakey,” the eldest said, tucking in the little girl’s stuffed snake.

The little girl giggled, hugging her toy to her chest. She glanced up at her older sibling, her eyes shimmering in the light.

“Night night,” she said, waving her little fist.

The eldest smiled, their eyes dull in the barely lit room, “Sweet dreams,” they said, kissing her forehead.

The child curled up with her snake, the moon casting a gentle halo around her head. The eldest sighed before crawling into their own bed. The moon didn’t reach their side anymore, sticking closely to the little girl.

“Good night…” they whispered, closing their eyes.

The nightlight fully gave out.

A little pink lion laid on the steps.

Riley Tomlin lives in Florida with their sibling and cat. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, photography and cosplaying.