“hey, look at me, baby.” cupping your face gently. thumbs stroking your cheeks. “you’re okay. you did so good.” you looking at me with those shy eyes. face flushed. still coming down. trying to hide in my neck.
“none of that, sweetheart. let me see you.” kissing your forehead. your nose. your cheeks. your temple. “so proud of you, baby. you were perfect.”
“let me get you some water.” reaching for the bottle. helping you sit up. one hand supporting your back. bringing it to your lips. “just a few sips.” you drinking slowly. “good girl. a little more.” making sure you get enough. kissing your shoulder softly.
grabbing the warm washcloth. “let me clean you up, baby.” spreading your legs gently. wiping between your thighs carefully. you wincing slightly. still sensitive. “i know, sweetheart. almost done.” finishing quickly. “all clean.” kissing your knee gently.
pulling you into my arms immediately. wrapping the blanket around both of us. you curling into me. face hidden in my neck again. shy. “i’m right here, baby. i’ve got you.” arms wrapped around you completely. holding you close.
stroking your hair slowly. fingers running through it. down your back. rubbing gentle circles. just soothing touches. kissing the top of your head. your temple. you still trembling slightly. “shh, sweetheart. just breathe. relax into me.”
one hand continuing to rub your back. up and down. the other cradling your head. feeling your breathing gradually slow. body starting to relax against me. kissing your forehead again.
“you don’t have to talk until you’re ready, okay?” stroking your cheek with my thumb. then back to your hair. “just let me hold you.” you making a soft sound. burrowing deeper. my hand moving down your spine. gentle pressure. grounding. “i love you so much, baby.”
“you were so good for me tonight. so perfect. i love touching you. making you feel good. and i always want you to feel safe with me.” continuing to rub your back. your shoulders. you nodding against me. “i do…” voice small. “good, sweetheart.” kissing your head again.
holding you like that. hand never stopping its gentle movement. back and forth across your back. through your hair. feeling you come back to yourself. the trembling stopping. breathing evening out. you sighing contentedly.
“can i put on your comfort show?” stroking down your arm now. back up. you nodding against me. mumbling the name. pulling it up with one hand. other arm never leaving you. settling back with you against my chest. hand in your hair. fingers gently massaging your scalp. the show playing softly.
staying like that for a while. continuing those gentle touches. rubbing your back. stroking your arms. kissing your head occasionally. eventually asking “are you hungry, baby? when did you eat last?” hand still moving up and down your spine. you thinking. “lunch…” that was hours ago. “let me grab you something quick.” you gripping my shirt. “don’t leave…” kissing your forehead. “thirty seconds, i promise.”
carefully getting up. you watching anxiously. rushing to get crackers and fruit. coming back quickly. sitting back down. you immediately curling back into me. my arm around you instantly. “there we go, baby. i’m back.”
feeding you slowly. one hand offering strawberries, crackers, chocolate. other hand rubbing your back continuously. you eating more as you relax. leaning into my touch. “good girl, baby.” kissing your temple between bites.
“feeling better?” you nodding. “yeah… thank you…” “always, baby.” both settling back. you against my chest. my hand stroking your hair. down your back. up again. repetitive. soothing. you getting sleepy. eyes heavy. melting into me.
“you can sleep, sweetheart. i’ve got you.” hand still moving. still touching. still grounding you. you already drifting. “love you…” “i love you too, baby.” kissing your head one more time.
holding you as you fall asleep. hand never stopping its gentle movement. keeping you safe. warm. loved. exactly where you need to be.
