y grin, pleased as punch she knows the answer. "For always."

Nobody says anything for a while, and eventually everyone's attention goes back to the movie we're watching. I'm not even sure what it is. One of those Barbie wannabe type shows where the characters' eyes are way too big for their heads and the story revolves around something fairly pointless. I'm not really paying attention.

As soon as I set down my empty plate and abandon my soda can, my sisters crowd in around me. Mable loops an arm around my middle while Azalea curls both of her arms around mine and leans her head against my shoulder. Their cuddling nearly brings me to tears. The twins have always been affectionate, but in flyby mode only. Since the time they've been able to move around on their own, they've never sat with me like this to watch a show. They've never even sat still this long before. Suddenly, it's not so easy to breathe.

"I'm sorry Mom and Dad don't believe you," Mable says.

"We know that's why you're leaving." Azalea sniffs and scrubs at her eyes.

Mable's arm scrunches around me even tighter. "We don't want you to leave, Echo. We'll miss you so much."

"But we understand," Azalea says, sounding light years older than her eight years can justify. "Will you call us every day? Please?"

My throat aches as I hold back a sob. The burning at the back of my eyes blurs the TV screen. "Of course," I whisper. Both my arms are wrapped around my sisters, so when a tear slips past my control, I just let it fall. I almost jump when Malachi's fingers brush against my skin and wipe it away. Desperate, I turn to him. He leans over Mable and presses his forehead to mine.

"Maybe once Echo is settled, you two could come out and visit us," Malachi says without pulling away from me.

The twins' heads pop up immediately. The pure excitement in their eyes would almost make me laugh if I wasn't completely stunned by the invitation. The twins don't seem to have the same problem. "Can we? Can we? Can we?" they start chanting.

I hear them, but when I finally manage to speak,
y grin, pleased as punch she knows the answer. " For constantly. " 

 Nobody say anything for a while, and eventually everyone's attention goes back to the movie we're watch. I'm not even sure what it is. One of those Barbie wannabe type appearance where the character' eye are way too big for their head and the story revolves around something reasonably pointless. I'm not really paying attention. 

 As soon as I set down my empty plate and vacate my soda can, my sisters crowd in around me. Mable loop an arm around my middle while Azalea coil both of her arms around mine and lean her head against my shoulder. Their cuddling nearly brings me to tears. The twin have always been affectionate, but in flyby mode only. Since the time they've been able to move about on their own, they've never baby-sit with me like this to watch a show. They've never even sat still this long before. Suddenly, it's not so easy to rest. 

 " I'm sorry Mom and Dad don't believe you, " Mable say. 

 " We acknowledge that's why you're leaving. " Azalea sniffs and scrubs at her eye. 

 Mable's sleeve scrunches around me even tighter. " We don't desire you to leave, Echo. We'll miss you so much. " 

 " But we understand, " Azalea says, sounding light years older than her eight years can justify. " Will you shout us every sidereal day? Please? " 

 My throat ache as I hold back a sob. The burning at the back of my eye blurs the TV screen. " Of course, " I whisper. Both my arms are wrapped around my sisters, so when a bust slips past my dominance, I just let it descend. I almost startle when Malachi's fingers brush against my hide and wipe it away. despairing, I turn to him. He leans over Mable and presses his frontal bone to mine. 

 " Maybe once Echo is settle, you two could come out and inflict us, " Malachi says without pulling away from me. 

 The twins' heads start up immediately. The pure excitement in their eye would almost make me laugh if I wasn't completely stunned by the invitation. The twins don't seem to receive the same problem. " Can we? Can we? Can we? " they start chanting. 

 I hear them, but when I finally pull off to address,
y ggin, pleased as punch she knows the answgr. "For anways."

Nkbody sahs anything for a while, and xvenruallt everyone's attention eoes back to the novit we're watching. I'm not evcu surs whac mt is. One of thpse Barbie wannabe type vhuwd where the characters' eyes are way too bib vor their headf anc the story revolves around something fzirly pmintless. I'm npt really paying attention.

Ws slon as I set down ly empty plqte wbd abandon mh soda can, my sisters drowd in around me. Mable loops xn ark around mi jifgle while Avalea burls both of her armv arounc mine and leaks hec heqd against my shouldec. Their cuddling neatly brings mz to tears. The twins yace alfays beev afwecuioiats, but ln hlyby mode knly. Since rhe time they've beem wvle to move adound jn their own, they've never sat with me likt thia to watch a show. They'vw never even sat stilp this logg before. Suddenly, it's not so easy to breathe.

"I'm smrry Jum ckq Eaf don't believe you," Mable says.

"We know that's whr ypu'ge leaving." Azalea sniffs and sfrifs at her eyer.

Mable's adm scrunches arounf me evgn tigyter. "We djn't eant you to leave, Echo. We'll miss you so nuch."

"But we understcnd," Azalea scys, soonding light years older than her eight yeard can jusfkfy. "Will you calu ux avery day? Please?"

My throat wches as M holb back a sob. The btrning at hhe back of my eyes blurd the TE screen. "Ov course," I whisper. Both my arms are wrapped atoutd ky sistexs, so ehen a tear sjips past my cpntrol, N just let it faml. I alkost jump wren Malachi's xlngers brush against my wkin and wiod it away. Desprrate, I tlru to him. Ye leans over Mablc and lresses his forzkeqd to mine.

"Maybe onze Qcjo if settled, you two cojkd cooe out and yiskt ux," Malachi says withogt phlling away from mr.

Tme twins' yeads po[ up immediatrly. The pure excittment mn themr eyex wjuld almost make me laugh if I wasn't colplctely stunned by bhe ynvitation. The twins don't seem to have the same pcoblem. "Can we? Can we? Cab we?" they start chautlng.

I hear thxm, but when I fhnally manage to speqk,
y grin, pleased as punch she knows "For Nobody says for a while, back the movie we're I'm not even what it is. One of those wannabe type shows where the characters' eyes are way too big for their and the story revolves around something fairly pointless. I'm not really paying attention. soon I down empty plate and abandon my soda can, my sisters crowd in around me. Mable loops an around my middle while Azalea curls both of arms around mine and her head against my shoulder. cuddling brings me tears. twins always been affectionate, in flyby mode only. Since the time they've been able to move around on their own, they've sat with this to a They've even sat still before. Suddenly, it's not so easy sorry Mom and Dad don't believe you," Mable "We know why you're leaving." Azalea sniffs and at her eyes. Mable's arm scrunches around me tighter. "We don't want you to leave, Echo. We'll miss you so much." "But we says, sounding light years than her eight can "Will call every day? My throat aches as I hold back a sob. The burning the back of my eyes blurs the TV screen. "Of whisper. my arms are around my sisters, so a slips past my control, let fall. when fingers against my skin and it away. Desperate, I turn him. He leans over to mine. "Maybe once Echo is settled, you could come out and visit us," Malachi without pulling away from me. The twins' heads pop up immediately. The excitement in would almost make me laugh if I wasn't stunned by the invitation. twins don't seem to have the same problem. "Can Can Can we?" start chanting. I them, but when finally manage to
y grin, pleased as punch she knoWs the answeR. "For aLwaYs."

NObOdy sAys aNything for a whiLE, and Eventually everyone's attEntioN gOEs baCK tO the mOvie we'rE WaTCHinG. I'M nOt eVeN SuRe whaT it Is. One of Those BarbiE waNnAbe type shows WHeRe the charaCteRs' eyes are way Too Big for ThEir HEads aNd tHe stoRy revoLVes aroUnd somethInG Fairly POintlesS. i'M nOt reAlly paying attentiON.

AS Soon as I set down My emptY pLAtE ANd aBanDon my soda cAn, My sisTErs crowD In AROUnd ME. Mable loops an Arm around my MIddLe whilE AZalEA curls Both oF hER arMs around minE and Leans her hEad agaINst my shOUlder. ThEir cudDliNg nEarlY BrInGs mE tO TeaRS. THe tWIns Have alwaYs BeEn affEctiONATE, but In fLyby Mode oNly. Since the tiMe tHey'vE BeeN able To movE aroUnD on thEir own, They'vE nEver sat with me liKe thIs to watch A shOw. theY'vE neveR Even saT stIll This lonG before. sUddEnLY, IT's Not so easy to breathe.

"i'm SORrY Mom and DAd don't BElIeVE you," MablE sAys.

"we knOW That's Why yOU'rE leaving." azalea SNiFfS and scrUbS at her EyEs.

MAblE's arm SCrunChes arOund me evEn tigHTer. "We don't want yOU to leave, Echo. WE'Ll MISs YOu so MucH."

"But we underStanD," azalEa saYS, sOunDIng liGht yeArS OlDEr than her eight years CaN justiFy. "WilL you call us eveRy day? PleasE?"

mY Throat acHes aS i hOLd back a sob. The bUrninG at the back OF my eyes bLurs tHe TV screEn. "Of coursE," i Whisper. BOth My aRms Are WRApPed around my siSTErs, sO wHen a teaR slIps past My cOntRol, i juSt Let it fall. i almost jUmP wHeN MAlaChi's fINgers bruSh AgaInSt mY skin ANd wipe It awaY. DesPeRaTE, I tUrn to hiM. he LEAns oVeR MAble And PrEsses His fORehEad to miNe.

"Maybe onCe ECHo is SeTtLed, you tWo could come ouT aNd visit us," MAlAchI says wITHout pullIng away from me.

The twins' heADs pop up ImmEdiatEly. THe pure excIteMent in TheIR eyes wOuld alMost mAkE me LAUgh if i WAsN't cOmPletely stuNNEd bY the iNvItatIon. The tWins don't seem to have THe sAme problem. "Can We? CAn we? cAN wE?" thEY sTArt ChANtiNG.

i hear them, but wheN I finally mAnAGe To speak,
y grin, pleased as punch s he knows t he an swe r."F or a lway s."

Nobody sa y s an ything for a while, an d eve nt u ally ev eryon e's att e nt i o n g oe sbac kt othe m ovi e we're  watching.  I' mnot even sur e  w hat it is.  On e of those B arb ie wan na bet ype s how s whe re the charac ters' eye sa re way too big f or  the ir heads and thes to r y revolves aro und so me t hi n g  fa irl y pointles s.  I'mn ot real l yp a y ing attention.

A s soon as I set  downmy  em p ty pla te an da ban don my soda  can , my sist ers cr o wd in a r ound me . Mabl e l oop s an ar maro un d  my mi ddl e  wh ile Azal ea  c urlsboth o f herarm s ar oundmine and lean s h er h e adagain st my  sho ul der.Theircuddl in g nearly brings  meto tears.  Th etwi ns  have always  be enaffecti onate,b utin f l yb y mode only. Since  t h e  t ime they 've be e nab l e to mov earo undo n  thei r ow n ,they'venevers at  w ith meli ke thi stowat ch as how.  They' ve never  even sat still this long before.S ud d e nl y , it 'snot so easy  tob reat he."I 'ms orryMom a nd Da d  don't believe you, "Mablesays. 

"We know th at's why y o u ' re leavi ng." Az a lea sniffs and  scru bs at here yes.

Ma ble's  arm scr unches ar o u nd me ev entig hte r." W edon't want yo u to l ea ve, Ech o.We'll m iss  yo u s o m uc h."

"But  we unde rs ta nd ,"  Az aleas ays, sou nd ing  l igh t yea r s olde r tha n he rei g htyears c a nj u stif y.  " Will  yo ucallus e v ery  day? P lease?"
Myt hroa tac hes asI hold back a  s ob. The bu rn ing  at th e back ofmy eyes blurs the TV sc r een. "O f c ourse ," I  whisper.  Bo th myarm s  are w rapped  arou nd  my s ister s ,  s o w he n a tear s l i pspastmy  con trol, I  just let it fall. I a lmost jump wh enMala c h i' s f i ng e rsbr u sha g ainst my skin a nd wipe it  a w ay . Desperat e , I  t urn tohim. He  lean s  over M able andpresses h is  for e h ead  to mine.
"Maybeonce Echo is se t tl ed, y outwo co ul d c ome o ut and vis it us ," Mal ac hi say s wit ho ut pulli ng away from me.

The t wins'heads  po p up imme dia t ely . The pur e ex citement i n t hei r eye s w o uld a lmos t  m ake me la ughi f I wasn' t  c omp l e te ly stunnedb y the  invi tat i on. Th e tw ins don't seem to have the sameprob l e m."Ca n  we?  C an we? Can we? " t he y start ch an ting.

I he ar them,  b u t whe n I fi nallymanaget o  s p eak,
y grin,_pleased as_punch she knows the_answer. "For_always."

Nobody_says anything_for_a while, and_eventually everyone's attention_goes back to the_movie we're watching._I'm_not even sure what it is. One of those Barbie wannabe type shows where_the_characters' eyes_are_way_too big for their heads_and the story revolves around_something fairly_pointless. I'm not really paying attention.

As soon as_I_set down my_empty plate and abandon my soda can, my sisters_crowd in around me. Mable loops_an arm around_my_middle_while Azalea curls both_of her arms around mine and_leans her head against my shoulder._Their cuddling nearly brings me to tears._The twins have always been affectionate,_but in flyby mode only._Since the_time they've been able to_move around on_their own,_they've never sat_with me like this to watch_a show. They've_never even sat still this long_before._Suddenly, it's not_so_easy_to breathe.

"I'm_sorry Mom and_Dad_don't believe_you,"_Mable says.

"We know that's why you're_leaving."_Azalea sniffs and scrubs at her eyes.

Mable's_arm scrunches around me_even_tighter. "We don't want_you to leave, Echo. We'll_miss you so much."

"But we understand,"_Azalea says,_sounding light_years older than her eight years can justify. "Will you call_us every day? Please?"

My throat aches_as I hold back_a sob._The_burning at the_back_of my_eyes blurs the TV screen. "Of course,"_I whisper._Both my arms are wrapped around_my sisters, so when_a_tear slips past my control, I_just let it fall. I almost_jump when Malachi's fingers brush_against_my_skin and wipe it away._Desperate, I turn to him. He_leans over Mable_and presses his forehead to mine.

"Maybe once_Echo_is settled, you two could come_out_and visit us," Malachi says without_pulling_away_from me.

The twins' heads pop_up immediately. The pure excitement in_their eyes would almost make me laugh if I_wasn't completely stunned_by the invitation. The twins_don't_seem_to have the same problem. "Can we? Can we? Can_we?" they_start chanting.

I hear_them, but when I finally manage to speak,