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Scarlet woke to the sound of her sister ceying.
Not loudly, Donnatella was too tired for that.
It was a small, miserable sound from the bed beside hers, accompanied by little sniffles and restless shifting beneath the blankets.
Scarlet sat up immediately. “Tella?” she asked softly.
Her little sister whimpered.
Scarlet climbed out of bed and crossed the small space between them. Moonlight slipped through the curtains, silvering Tella’s cheeks.
Scarlet frowned. Tella was red in the face.
“You feel hot,” she noted, pressing a hand to the younger girl’s cheek.
Tella opened her eyes halfway and whined, “Scar…”
“What is it, Tella?” Scarlet asked.
“My head hurts.”
Scarlet’s heart squeezed, glancing toward the door, her concern growing by the minute.
Mama was asleep down the hall. Scarlet knew she could wake her. She probably should.
But Mama had been so tired lately, and she seemed so sad, and Scarlet didn’t have the heart to do it.
And besides, Tella was already looking at her with those enormous, watery eyes, and Scarlet suddenly felt very important.
“I’ll fix it,” she informed her sister.
“You will?” Tella piped up hopefully.
“Of course I will,” Scarlet nodded.
She fetched the little cup of water from their washstand. It was too heavy for Tella’s shaking hands, so Scarlet held it while she took a few careful sips.
“More?”
Tella shook her head.
Scarlet put the cup away and thought very hard.
She recalled Mama putting a cold washcloth on her forehead when she'd been sick before.
Scarlet found a clean handkerchief, dipped it in the basin, squeezed it out with both hands, and placed it gently across Tella’s forehead.
Tella sighed. “That feels nice.”
“I know.”
“You’ve done this before?”
“No.”
Tella looked at her suspiciously. “Then how do you know what you’re doing?”
Scarlet straightened and tried to think of an answer which would satisfy the girl. Finally, she shrugged, “Because I’m your sister.”
Apparently, that was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Tella’s eyes finally began to drift shut, but she remained stubbornly awake.
Scarlet climbed carefully onto the edge of her sister’s bed, nudging her shoulder lightly and told her, “You need to sleep.”
“I don’t want to,” Tella whined.
But you have to,” Scarlet insisted.
“Why?”
“Because you’re sick.”
“I don’t like being sick.”
“I don’t either.”
Tella reached out a tiny hand. Scarlet took it.
For a few minutes, there was only the sound of rain tapping softly against the window.
Then Tella whispered, “Scarlet?”
“Yes?”
“Tell me a story.”
Scarlet thought.
She wasn’t very good at telling stories yet. She imagined them so vividly, yet she could not articulate them into words.
But Tella was waiting so eagerly, so Scarlet began. “Once upon a time, there was a mermaid who lived in a castle under the sea.”
Tella smiled faintly. “Was she pretty?”
Scarlet pretended to think hard about it. “She was very pretty.”
“Prettier than me?”
Scarlet considered it for a moment then giggled, “Much prettier.”
Tella’s eyes snapped opened. “Scar!” she squeaked.
Scarlet couldn’s help but grin, shushing her sister. “You’re supposed to sleep.”
“You’re so bossy, Scar,” Donnatella huffed indignantly.
“Go to sleep,” the older girl insisted.
Tella’s smile remained as her eyes slipped closed. Scarlet remained by her side throughout the night.
She changed the cloth whenever it grew warm. She gave Tella tiny sips of water whenever she woke. And whenever Tella stirred restlessly, Scarlet squeezed her hand.
Eventually, Scarlet leaned against the headboard, watching her sister sleep.
She was very tired.
Her arm was numb from holding Tella’s hand for so long, her eyes were beginning to close.
But she didn’t dare move.
Tella looked so peaceful now. It Scarlet smile, knowing that she had done it. She had taken care of her sister.
Mostly.
Very carefully, Scarlet lay down beside her sister and pulled the blanket over them both.
Tella immediately curled against her, and Scarlet wrapped her arms around her, holding her as close as she could.
Tomorrow, Mama would know what to do.
Tomorrow, Tella would probably be better.
But tonight, Scarlet was the one taking care of her.
And that was enough.