"I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Leaving? Where are you going?"
Isabella stared at Dahlia for a moment, before returning to scooping up food with her spoon and feeding it to Dahlia.
"You're not a stupid child. So you should know I'm not from here."
Dahlia didn't answer. She took the food from Isabella and ate slowly.
With her mouth full of food, Dahlia hoped it would give her an excuse not to answer.
But she knew that staying silent would make her regret it. But would speaking up change what was about to happen?
Dahlia knew from the start that Isabella was different from other babysitter.
When she first met Isabella, Dahlia could sense a dangerous aura that made her instinctively take a cautious stance. And that aura didn't appear once or twice, but repeatedly.
Dahlia was quite certain that Isabella was some kind of guardian guarding this place from monsters, having seen Isabella talking to people wearing special clothing several times. But after hearing what Isabella said, Dahlia sensed that Isabella was more than that.
Dahlia lowered her head slightly and began to speak. But instead of sharing what she had observed about Isabella, she immediately said what was on her mind.
"When will you be back?"
Isabella's hand holding the spoon paused briefly before returning to the food, as if the movement hadn't even occurred.
"I don't know. I only came here for a reason. The reason I became your babysitter was also only because someone else asked me to."
For a while, Isabella continued feeding Dahlia, without either of them speaking.
After they finished eating, they played as usual. Then, in the afternoon, Dahlia resumed her training session until it was finished.
Unusually, this time Dahlia finished it a little longer.
Isabella, noticing the changes in Dahlia's demeanor, remained silent with an unchanged expression.
After Dahlia finished her exercise, she offered her a small towel to wipe off the sweat.
"Hey, want to take a bath with me?"
Dahlia was momentarily taken aback by Isabella's offer. But she had breastfed Isabella many times, so a bath together was no big deal.
Dahlia agreed, and they immediately took a bath together.
"This place...?"
"Your bathroom doesn't have a bathtub, right? This bathroom is used for patients who need to absorb medication through the skin."
"Through the skin?"
"It's just like a regular bath. This bathroom hasn't been used for a while, so we can use it."
When Isabella undressed, Dahlia quickly undressed, and they immediately took a bath.
"Dahlia, sit on my lap."
Dahlia immediately complied and sat on Isabella's lap.
The direct contact of their skin immediately surprised Dahlia.
It had been so long since Dahlia had bathed with someone. The last time her skin had touched someone else was with someone close to her. So when she felt Isabella's body and skin, Dahlia immediately felt a sense of longing.
Isabella began to bathe her.
Each stroke not only felt comfortable, but also removed the dirt from Dahlia's skin.
Dahlia looked at Isabella. She remembered her mother who used to bathe her with such love.
That memory should have been strong, but right now, Dahlia only saw Isabella... without imagining that it was her mother's face.
The night was peaceful.
Sitting on Isabella's lap, Dahlia continued reading the storybook with Isabella.
The rather thick storybook told a beautiful story for children.
Dahlia, beginning to doubt such beautiful things, and Isabella, not suited to such stories, chose a story that seemed more realistic. But no matter what the story, a beautiful story always has a happy ending.
The book ended with the main character happily gathering with her family and friends.
Was it a good story?
Dahlia and Isabella didn't comment on the story.
The storybook closed, and Isabella lowered Dahlia from her lap.
"It's almost time for bed. I have to wake up early tomorrow. So—"
Before Isabella could finish her sentence, she felt something grab her clothes.
She looked at Dahlia's hands, which were tightly gripping her clothes.
"Don't go," Dahlia said, lowering her head.
"Well, I might be able to sleep with you again."
"Don't go!"
The repetition of the word emphasized the meaning Dahlia had been trying to deny.
"I'm just your babysitter. I'm nothing more than a stranger doing her job."
"Liar!"
"The first day we met, that's what you showed me."
Dahlia flinched slightly as she remembered that day. All day long, Dahlia had maintained boundaries with Isabella.
But that day was that day. As for today... Dahlia had no idea after hearing Isabella state the facts directly.
Although she had hoped Isabella was someone close to her, she had already seen Isabella as Isabella herself.
She had grown comfortable and accustomed to Isabella's presence.
They were strangers, and Dahlia knew she had no right to stop Isabella. Even so, she still wanted to hope that Isabella would stay.
But what Dahlia received was rejection.
Dahlia watched her hand loosen from Isabella's clothes.
Isabella held Dahlia's hand with both hands. She looked down for a moment, then looked up at Dahlia's face.
"I'm sorry."
Tears immediately flowed from Dahlia's eyes when she received that answer. Dahlia tried to stop her tears, but she couldn't.
They had only been together for a few days, but the impact was profound.
Isabella watched Dahlia cry right in front of her. Isabella's expression remained the same, calm and unconcerned. But if one were to observe, they would notice that Isabella's eyes were sparkling.
Isabella hugged Dahlia tightly.
In Isabella's embrace, Dahlia didn't feel joy or comfort. What she felt this time was pain and sadness, because it would be their last embrace.
For several minutes, Dahlia continued to cry until Isabella suddenly silenced her by breastfeeding her.
The soft texture of her nipple and the sweet taste of her milk immediately calmed her. However, it still wasn't enough to counteract the reality of what was about to happen.
That night, Isabella stayed with Dahlia all night, nursing her and occasionally giving her a kiss on the forehead or cheek.
Even when they slept, the loving moment didn't end.
This time, Isabella truly slept with her, even after she fell asleep.
The nipple still in her mouth was a sign of her dedication. Her large soft breasts pressed against her face, comforting her. Isabella's caring embrace, meanwhile, provided warmth on the cold night and a sense of reassuring protection.
That night, for the first time, and after a long time, Dahlia felt again the love and affection that only her mother could give her.