Confined

Two weeks later

Rodney was tired of being confined in Alberto’s mansion. He had reached his breaking point after begging alberto to let him go in vain. Taking care of Lyra was the only thing that gave him some comfort. One afternoon, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his sister seated on a small stool. He carefully combed through her soft, curly hair, trying to gently untangle the unruly knots.

“Ow, that hurts!” Lyra protested, squirming in his grip. Her hair had been messier than before that morning.

“I'm sorry, Ly, but you have to let me comb your hair,” Rodney told her, trying to be patient.

He continued to comb the hair, using his fingers to gently loosen the tangles. His sister’s hair was so curly and thick, and it was a struggle to get through it all. Finally, he finished and leaned back to admire his handiwork, a proud smile spreading across his face.

“I’m done now,” he said. “You have the most beautiful hair in the world.”

Lyra giggled, reaching up to touch her now-smooth