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It was the most he'd spoken since we found him, and relief flooded through me. As I continued washing him, he graduallyrelaxed further, leaning into my touch rather than flinching from it.
"There," I said when I was finished and his hair rinsed. "All clean."
I helped him out of the tub and wrapped him in the fluffiest towel we had, patting him dry with the same careful attention I'd used in the bath. When I reached for his dino pajamas, he made a small noise of distress.
"What is it, little one?"
"Can I...can I have the blue ones?" he asked hesitantly, as if afraid I might refuse.
"Of course you can," I said immediately, retrieving his plain blue ones from the drawer. I helped him into them, careful of his back, then settled him on the bed propped against pillows to keep pressure off his injuries.
"I'm going to get you something to eat," I said, brushing his hair back from his forehead. "Will you be okay for a minute?"
Matty's fingers tightened around mine. "Don't go," he whispered, panic flashing in his eyes.
"Just to the kitchen," I assured him. "You'll be able to see me the whole time if I leave the door open."
He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay."
I left the bedroom door wide open so he could watch me move around the kitchen. I worked quickly, heating chicken broth and arranging crackers on a plate, adding a small cup of applesauce with a dinosaur shaped spoon. Throughout, I kept up a steady stream of reassuring chatter, letting him hear my voice constantly.
When I returned with the tray, Matty had Patches clutched to his chest, his eyes never leaving the doorway.
"Here we go," I said, setting the tray on the nightstand. "Think you can eat something?"
He nodded.
I sat beside him on the bed, balancing the bowl of broth carefully. "Let me help you."
I fed him slowly, one spoonful at a time, praising him softly with each bite he managed. He ate about half the broth and a few crackers before turning his head away.
"That's good, little one," I encouraged. "You did so well."
He looked up at me, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. "I was so scared," he whispered, voice breaking. "I thought...I thought maybe you wouldn't come."
"Oh, baby," I set the bowl aside and gathered him gently against my chest, mindful of his injuries. "I will always come for you. Always."
"He said you'd take the money," Matty continued, tears flowing freely now. "That you'd let him have me because...because I'm not worth it."
Rage flashed through me at Degrassi's psychological torture, but I kept my voice gentle. "Nothing in this world could make me give you up. Not money, not threats, nothing."
Matty sobbed against my shirt, his whole body shaking. I held him, rocking slightly, letting him purge the fear and pain he'd been holding inside. I murmured reassurances against his hair, promising safety, promising protection, promising I would never leave.
Eventually, his sobs quieted to hiccups, then to the occasional sniffle. His body grew heavier against mine as exhaustion took over.
"Sleepy," he mumbled against my chest.
"Then sleep, little one," I said. I gently repositioned us, easing him down onto the pillows while keeping him close. "I've got you. You're safe now."
His eyelids fluttered, fighting sleep even as exhaustion claimed him. "Don't leave," he whispered, fingers still twisted in my shirt.
"Never," I promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Close your eyes, baby boy. I'll be right here when you wake up."
He finally surrendered to sleep, his breathing evening out as his body went limp against mine. I stayed perfectly still, afraid to disturb him, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Each breath he took felt like a miracle after the hours of terror when I'd thought I might never see him again.
A soft knock at the door broke the silence. I looked up to see Jono standing in the doorway, his expression somber.
"How is he?" he asked quietly.