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My keys are waiting on the hook, where I left them.

“Firefly?” Milo peers over at me as I dangle my keys. “Are you down for an ice cream?”

His eyes go round, sparkling with excitement as he replies, “Can I get extra sprinkles on mine?”

“Whatever you want, bug.”

He scrambles off the couch, grabbing his coat. “Yes…!” He yells loudly.

I shake my own head before grabbing a light jacket and reach down to zip up Milo's as he stands in front of me hopping up and down.

“Are you ready to go with your favorite sister ever?”

“You’re my only sister silly!” He tells me as the house goes dark.

I smile at him before opening the front door. “Yeah but I’m still your favorite.”

The wind ruffles through his unruly curls as he bolts towards the passenger side of the car. I chuckle to myself before pushing the key into the ignition.

“Can we put on a song, Reya.”

I reverse out of the driveway before glancing at him briefly, “Sure bug.”

Milo reaches down and grabs our cd album; he removes one from its plastic sleeve and places it at the mouth of the player, watching it swallow the notes.

The car fills with the melody of the song and I drum my fingers to the beat as Milo shouts out some of the lyrics, rocking his head side to side.

We stayed like that for the last fifteen minutes of the journey to Heath’s coffee shop that’s also transforming to an ice cream shop at night.

I park, and before I’ve even killed the engine, Milo’s out of the car, racing toward our favorite table. I shake my head, laughing to myself as I join the line. His legs dangle off the chair, swinging impatiently while he waits.

“You want the usual bug?”

He nods his head as I glance back at Heath who’s already smiling. “Look at that, my ex-employee.”

“Missed me? It’s only been a week, Heath,” I reply, taking some cash out to pay.

“Hayzel sent me two young insufferable students to work here, and I do miss your insane need to clean everything.”

I turn around and see the new workers, overwhelmed with everything they have to do. It makes me laugh because all I could see was young Hayzel and I when we started working here years ago.

“They just started, give them some time. I used to break so many glasses when I started.”

He laughs and sighs, “Yeah… Milo is here? Do you want the usual?”

“Yep, a vanilla cup and a chocolate one please, both with extra sprinkles.”

“It's on the house!” He says as he goes to make them.

“That’s good with me,” I reply, looking back at my little brother who’s nodding his head to the music rhythm.

Heath returns with the cups and I thank him before making my way back over.

“I love this ice cream, it’s so much better than when aunty Hayzel does it!” Milo says excitedly and I reach over to lightly tug one of his curls.

“Right? me too,” I smile as I pull back my hand before tucking into my own cup.

It feels good to see him happy. Like everything I went through is worth it as long as I can keep his innocence safe and his spirit free from everything that could bother him.