I rested my little hand in his, picking up the piece of candy he held in his hand. My heart fluttered in my chest and my blood rushed through my ears so fast I could hear it. I took the small piece of candy, pinching it between my two fingers and rolling it between. It was a tiny hard-shell candy. They were small, but so tasty. It tasted of fresh raspberries just picked from the garden. My thumb nail glided over the tiny indentation on the outside. A tiny ballerina, just for me!

“Go on, my little princess. Taste it. It’s a new flavor.” A new flavor! He only gave me new flavors for my birthdays! This was exciting.

“But it’s not my birfday?” My eyes widened.

His smile deepened, as he leaned down closer until his lips were hovering over my forehead. “I know, but it will be soon.”

Placing the candy on the tip of my tongue, I fell back onto the bed and giggled as the sugar from blueberries and cotton candy slid down my throat. “This is so lovely.” I closed my eyes as his lips grazed my forehead.

“Isn’t it?” He trailed tiny kisses down from my forehead to my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” My eyes opened onto him, this time he was so close I could feel his breath on my lips.

He moved, and his face looked funny, like he was moving slower than usual. It was the candy! That’s why it was my favorite. “Who’s my favorite little girl?”

I smiled, biting into my lip. “I am.”

My body jolts and I hit my head on the side of the door. Opening my eyes, I stare at the smooth leather of the upholstery. That’s right. I’m still here. Stuck in a realm of where I was tricked into thinking someone was good. Good enough to sleep with, anyway. Good enough to be the kind of big brother I thought every girl needed.

I was tricked.

“You awake?” His voice is drenched in sleep. I find myself aching from the familiarity of his tone. It was the same kind he used the morning we woke up together.

I roll to the front, pressing the button to raise my chair. It’s barely dark. Right between yesterday ending and a new day starting. Within ten minutes, a new sun would be peeking out behind the mountains and everything from yesterday would be in the past.

“Can I ask you something?” I turn my head to face him, and that’s when I feel the collar of his hoodie graze my cheek. I grab the end, looking between the hoodie and his face.