Our Friend, Mr.Sun

Izzy's POV

I stare up at the ceiling, shadows drifting across the walls as the nightlight flickers softly. I can hear the quiet sounds of breathing around me, but sleep just won't come.

"Lana? Are you still awake?" I whisper, my voice so soft it almost melts into the darkness.

"I'm awake," Jade whispers back from her bed, her voice calm but a little shaky. I know she worries, too, especially now with everything changing.

"But is Lana awake?" I ask, needing to hear her voice too.

"Yeah..." Lana mumbles, her voice heavy and quiet.

For a few seconds, no one says anything. We just lie there, listening to each other's breathing. Being in the dark feels different tonight, heavier somehow, knowing that tomorrow won't bring us back to Mr. Sun or our friends at the daycare.

"I miss Mr. Sun," I whisper finally, my voice barely more than a breath.

"Me too," Jade says, and I can hear the sadness in her voice.

I don't say anything else, but the room feels a little warmer, knowing we're all awake together, each of us holding onto the same feelings, the same memories. Even if we're not at the daycare, maybe it won't feel so far away because we have each other.

In the quiet, I hold my bunny a little closer and close my eyes, hoping sleep will come soon.

Jade's POV

The next day comes too soon. Everything feels heavy again, like a weight pressing down on my chest. It's like we're back at the beginning, reliving that first day we went to Superstar Daycare, except this time, it's worse.

Lana is rocking wildly in her car seat, her hands flapping quickly. Her head is tilted back, and she's humming loudly. I don't know how to help her. I reach out, trying to calm her, but she jerks away.

"Lana, it's okay," I say softly. She doesn't respond, just keeps rocking and flapping.

Izzy sits next to her, staring down at her lap. She's silent—too silent. She's gripping her bunny so tight I'm afraid it might tear. She doesn't speak, not even to me. It's like her voice has vanished, like it's been locked away, and I don't know how to get it back.

I bite my lip, trying to steady my breathing. My hands feel clammy, and my stomach twists in knots. Mommy is up front, driving us to wherever this new babysitter is, but I feel like I'm the one who's supposed to make sure everything's okay. I feel like I'm failing.

"It's just another day," I whisper to myself, but it doesn't help. It feels like everything's falling apart again, and I can't stop it.

I glance at Lana, still rocking, still flapping, and then at Izzy, who looks like she might disappear into her seat. I want to fix it, to make them feel better, but I don't know how.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, wishing we could go back to yesterday, back to the daycare, back to Mr. Sun. But that's not going to happen.

We arrive at the new babysitter's house. It's… pretty. I guess. The house is painted a soft yellow with white trim, and there's a garden out front with neat rows of flowers that sway in the breeze. The yard looks big, and there's even a wooden swing set in the corner.

But no matter how nice it looks, my chest still feels tight.

"Here we are, girls!" Mommy says, turning off the car and glancing back at us with a too-bright smile.

Lana is still rocking in her seat, her hands flapping faster now. She's muttering under her breath, something I can't quite catch. Izzy clutches her bunny tighter, her eyes darting around nervously.

"Come on, let's go meet Ms. Robin," Mommy says gently, opening her door and stepping out.

I don't move right away. Neither do my sisters.

"Jade," Mommy calls again. I take a deep breath, unbuckle my seatbelt, and slide out of the car.

"Come on, Lana," I say as gently as I can, reaching for her hand. She pulls away, shaking her head, her muttering growing louder.

"Izzy?" I glance at her, but she's frozen, her bunny clutched to her chest.

Mommy comes around to Lana's side, her smile fading a little when she sees her rocking. "It's okay, sweetie," she says, crouching down. "Ms. Robin is really nice. You're going to have so much fun."

Lana doesn't respond. She just keeps rocking, her eyes fixed on the seat in front of her.

"Let's go together," I whisper to Izzy. "You, me, and Lana. We'll stick together, okay?"

Izzy hesitates, then gives the smallest nod. She slides out of the car, still holding her bunny like it's the only thing keeping her alive.

Mommy helps Lana out, and she guides her toward the house. Lana's movements slow a little, but I can tell she's still overwhelmed.

The front door opens, and a woman with curly brown hair and a kind smile steps out. "Hello there!" she says warmly. "You must be Jade, Izzy, and Lana. I'm Ms. Robin."

Her voice is soft, not too loud, but it still makes my stomach twist. I glance at Izzy. She's staring at the ground, her grip on her bunny tightening.

"Hi," I mumble, barely looking at Ms. Robin.

"Come on in," she says, stepping aside to let us in. The house smells like cookies, warm and sweet, but it doesn't feel as comforting as it should.

I take Izzy's hand and follow Mommy and Lana inside, my heart pounding in my chest. This place might look nice, but it's not home. It's not the daycare. It's new, and new is scary.