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“Eliza, we’re going to play hide and seek, do you want to play?” Alexander asked, peeking into Eliza’s office as the children ran around him. Eliza looked up from her sowing and frowned. While she loved her children and playing with them was always fun, she didn’t like the idea of playing hide and seek.
“Can we play something else?” Eliza asked, finishing up the last stitchwork that needed to be done on the dress. Alexander shook his head and replied, “The children want to play hide and seek. If you don’t want to join us, it’s fine, they won’t mind. We’ll stay out of your office so you don’t have to worry about that if that’s on your mind.”
Eliza sighed and shook her head. “It’s not that.” She hesitated before saying, “Fine, I’ll play. Just for a couple rounds though.”
“Alright!” Alexander smiled as the children also started a little cheer of their own. One of the children, James, declared himself as the seeker and began to count to 30 as the rest of the children that were playing ran off squealing. Alexander took hold of Eliza’s hand and the couple ran away as well.
“Where should we go?” Eliza asked as their son sped up with his counting. They had checked in some other areas, but the kids were already in there.
“The closet in our room?” Alexander suggested. Eliza let her husband take her there, feeling herself get weaker. They slipped into the closet where, luckily, no one else was. She rested against him and began to whimper as he shut the closet door enough for it to be slightly ajar.
“Are you okay, my dear?” Alexander whispered, nudging her body slightly. “You seem a little bit sick.”
Eliza gasped, trying to control her heavy breathing, “I... I don’t like being in small spaces. … One time I was playing hide and seek with my family and friends and I was hiding in a closet and… and I guess they forgot about me or thought that I wasn't playing anymore or that they stopped playing and I didn’t know or something…. And because of the way I did it, I was locked in until someone on the outside let me out. It… it was scary.”
“Oh. Oh, I’m so sorry; I didn’t know–”
“I know that you didn’t know, Alexander. I never told you. It’s okay.” Eliza forced a smile, despite feeling uncomfortable herself.
Alexander paused, and then asked, “Is that why you don’t like playing hide and seek?”
Eliza shrugged. “I suppose, yeah.”
Footsteps came closer to the closet. James was here. Eliza stopped talking and listened to her son check throughout the hiding spots.
“Hey, I’ll open the door a little bit so that we can get out of playing and still allow James the fun in finding us. Is that alright?” Alexander whispered, his lips brushing against her ear as he shifted. Eliza nodded and Alexander gave the door a little push.
After a few moments, the closet door was thrown open, revealing a giggling James, who yelled out, “I found you, Mommy and Daddy! You’re out!”
“Oh, darn!” Alexander laughed, getting Eliza to chuckle as well. They both got out of the closet and stretched as John ran off happily, looking for his siblings.
Alexander kissed Eliza’s forehead and held both of her hands, asking, “How are you feeling now?”
“Better. A lot better. Thank you.”