Chapter 100

The late afternoon sun spilled warm gold across the quiet neighborhood street, the kind of soft glow that usually made everything feel safe.

Today, it didn’t.

Lisa sat on the edge of their couch, elbows on her knees, hands tangled in her hair. Her chest felt tight, her thoughts louder than anything else in the room. She could still hear it-the small gasp, the soft cry, the way Ruby’s tiny voice cracked when she said, “Mama…”

It kept replaying.

Over and over.

“I should’ve held her tighter…” Lisa whispered, voice trembling. “I should’ve been watching better. I should’ve-“

“Lalisa.”

Jennie’s voice was gentle, but firm enough to cut through the spiral.

Lisa didn’t look up. “She fell, Jen… she fell because of me.”

From across the room, Ruby’s soft giggles floated faintly-she was sitting on the floor with Kuma, her scraped knee now carefully cleaned and covered with a bright cartoon bandage. Completely fine. Completely okay.

But Lisa wasn’t.

Jennie walked over slowly, sitting beside her. Not too close at first-just enough to be there without overwhelming her.

“Hey,” Jennie said softly. “Look at me.”

Lisa shook her head, eyes glossy. “I can’t… I messed up. What if it was worse? What if she hit her head? What if-“

Jennie gently reached out, taking Lisa’s hands out of her hair and holding them firmly.

“Lalisa. Look at me.”

This time, Lisa did.

Her eyes were red, filled with guilt that didn’t belong there.

Jennie softened immediately.

“She scraped her knee,” Jennie said quietly. “That’s it.”

Lisa swallowed hard. “She cried…”

“Of course she did,” Jennie replied, a small smile forming. “She’s three.”

Lisa let out a shaky breath, but the guilt didn’t leave. “I was right there. I was holding the bike, and I just- I don’t know-I let go for a second and-“

“And she tipped over,” Jennie finished gently. “Because that’s what kids do when they’re learning.”

Lisa’s voice cracked. “But I’m her mom. I’m supposed to protect her.”

Jennie leaned in a little closer now, her voice soft but unwavering.

“And you did.”

Lisa blinked. “How?”

“You were there,” Jennie said. “You picked her up the second she fell. You checked her, you held her, you soothed her. You didn’t freeze, you didn’t walk away-you were right there.”

Lisa’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Jennie squeezed her hands.

“Lisa, do you think any kid grows up without a single scratch?” she asked gently.

Lisa hesitated. “…No.”

“Exactly. Scraped knees, tiny falls, little bumps-those are part of growing up. Not because their parents failed… but because they’re learning.”

Lisa’s shoulders slowly dropped, just a little.

“But it still hurts,” Lisa whispered. “Seeing her cry like that… knowing I could’ve stopped it.”

Jennie’s expression softened even more. She reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from Lisa’s face.

“You’re not supposed to stop every fall,” Jennie said quietly. “You’re supposed to be there when they do.”

Lisa’s eyes welled up again.

“And you were,” Jennie added.

For a moment, the room felt still.

Then-

“Mama!”

Both of them turned.

Ruby stood there, wobbling slightly as she walked over, her tiny hand clutching Kuma’s ear. Her bandaged knee peeked out from her shorts, already forgotten.

Lisa’s breath hitched.

Ruby smiled brightly, completely unaffected. “Look! Kuma kiss boo-boo!”

As if on cue, Kuma licked her knee again, making Ruby giggle uncontrollably.

Jennie chuckled softly. “Wow, very advanced medical treatment.”

Ruby nodded proudly, then waddled closer. “Mama, up!”

Lisa froze for half a second, hesitation flickering in her eyes.

Jennie noticed.

“Go on,” she whispered.

Slowly, carefully, Lisa opened her arms.

Ruby climbed into her lap without a second thought, wrapping her tiny arms around Lisa’s neck like nothing bad had ever happened.

“I okay,” Ruby mumbled against her shoulder. “No cry now.”

That did it.

Lisa’s arms tightened around her daughter, holding her close like she was something fragile and unbreakable at the same time.

“I’m sorry, baby…” Lisa whispered into her hair.

Ruby pulled back slightly, frowning in confusion. “Why sorry?”

Lisa blinked.

“…Because you got hurt.”

Ruby thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.

“Is okay,” she said simply. “Mama hug.”

Jennie smiled softly from beside them.

Kids really were that simple.

Lisa let out a shaky laugh, pressing a kiss to Ruby’s head. “Mama hug fixes everything, huh?”

Ruby nodded seriously. “And Kuma kiss.”

“Ah, of course,” Jennie added. “Top-tier healing combo.”

Lisa finally smiled-a real one this time, small but genuine.

She looked at Jennie, gratitude clear in her eyes.

Jennie leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to Lisa’s temple.

“You’re a good mom,” she murmured.

Lisa exhaled slowly, the weight on her chest easing just a little.

“I just… don’t want to hurt her.”

Jennie rested her head lightly against Lisa’s.

“You won’t. Not in the way you’re afraid of,” she said. “And the fact that you care this much? That’s exactly why she’s safe with you.”

Lisa looked down at Ruby, who was now busy telling Kuma a very serious story about her “battle scar.”

“…She’s really okay,” Lisa said quietly.

Jennie smiled. “She’s more than okay.”

Ruby suddenly looked up. “Mama, bike again tomorrow?”

Lisa froze.

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly holding back a laugh.

Lisa hesitated… then let out a soft sigh.

“…Yeah,” she said, brushing Ruby’s hair back. “We’ll try again.”

Ruby beamed. “Yay!”

Jennie nudged Lisa gently. “See? She’s not scared.”

Lisa shook her head, a small smile returning. “Yeah… I guess I’m the only one who is.”

Jennie intertwined their fingers.

“Then we’ll face it together.”

Lisa squeezed her hand back, holding Ruby a little closer with her other arm.

The fear wasn’t completely gone.

But it wasn’t overwhelming anymore.

Because Ruby was laughing.

Because Jennie was there.

Because sometimes, love isn’t about preventing every fall-

It’s about being there to catch each other after.