one more day

Theory took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Rhyme's answer was so painfully adult, but she tried not to be irritated at his response. She knew it came from a full life and his own unique experiences. Knowing was something that came from... having known it, she supposed. And she was positively certain that she hadn't felt any kind of... romantic love, only the close bond that connected her to her patchwork family.

She didn't acknowledge his answer to her question - it was too difficult to wrap her head around. How would they have been safer without their mother? Hadn't Tana been a healer? Didn't she know that puppies needed their mothers? It would take some time before Theory would be able to reckon with Tana's absence, and while Rhyme's answer only confused her further, she hoped one day it would help her come to terms with Tana's choice. "You're right," she said bitterly, her petulant teenager tone showing. "It doesn't make sense at all."

As he nuzzled her ear with all of a father's affection, Theo couldn't help but let a few more hot tears slip down her cheeks. Although she had never doubted Rhyme's love - she would forever remember those first few days after Tana had left, when he had taken her and her siblings to all pile hellishly close in his den - it was always nice to hear it spoken aloud. "Tell me about some of your mistakes, then," she challenged quietly, turning her eyes up to him and pressing her head beneath his chin more closely. Theory thought Rhyme must have been exaggerating - what kind of mistakes could he have possibly made?