CHAPTER FIVE—SMALL VICTORIES.

Arina’s POV

The morning was quiet.

The sun came through my curtains just right.

I stretched, feeling the aches from the past days looking after Kael.

It's tough, but those little moments when he seems to get it? Totally worth it.

Today, I decided I'd keep watching him, gently pushing him, and being patient.

I got dressed fast, put my hair up, and got ready for the day.

Downstairs, Kael was in the living room like always, book open.

He was sitting up straight, every move careful, staring at the pages like I wasn't there.

Okay, patience.

Morning, Kael, I said softly.

He glanced at me, then back to his book.

No words, just a tiny eyebrow lift. I smiled.

Even this little bit is something.

Breakfast was quiet.

Kael ate in his usual way, chewing carefully, hands neat.

I put a juice cup down and smiled at him.

He took it with a nod.

I held my breath a second, enjoying this tiny win.

These little things are big for a kid who barely talks or pays attention to anyone outside his routines.

After breakfast, I took him to get ready for school.

I wanted to try something different today to make it easier for him.

“Kael,” I said, “how about we pick your tie together today?

You pick the one you want.”

He stopped, touched the ties, and picked

one.

He didn't smile or talk, but he let me fix it for him.

That was like a little bridge forming between us.

In the car, Kael stayed quiet, looking out the window.

I watched him, seeing the tension in his shoulders, the little frown when we hit a bump.

I walked him to his classroom.

He didn’t say anything or look at me as he went in, but he didn’t fight it.

That was enough for me. Slowly, we’re getting into a rhythm—understanding each other without words.

Back at the house, I had stuff to do.

Maria left a list, but I kept looking at the gate, waiting for Kael to come home.

My days now have a quiet rhythm, all about him, his schedule, and being patient.

Around mid-morning, I wanted to make a treat—Kael’s favorite cookies, fresh out of the oven.

I set them up nice, thinking maybe this would get a smile or something.

When the car came back, Kael got out, like always, face blank. I said hi softly.

“Welcome back, Kael.

I made cookies for you. Thought you might want some.”

He looked at the cookies, then grabbed one silently.

I sighed in relief.

A simple thing—but he took one. For Kael, that could be big.

For me, it means I gotta keep being patient.

After his snack, we went to the living room.

I said how about we do puzzles and games.

Kael didn’t talk, but he helped, setting up pieces and looking at me to make sure I knew the rules.

“Kael, you want help with this part?” I asked, pointing to a tough spot.

He nodded a little. I gave him the piece, watching him put it in.

Then he looked up and mumbled, “Thanks.”

My heart skipped a beat.

That one word meant so much. He let me in, just for a second, and I’m not gonna mess that up.

The afternoon went by with quiet moments. Kael stayed reserved, not talking much, but I saw little signs he was getting comfortable—more relaxed, looking at me, even a little sigh when he finished something.

I paid attention to those things.

He's teaching me as much as I'm teaching him.

Patience, watching, respect—that's how to get to him, slowly, without pushing him to talk when he’s not ready.

Dinner was quiet, but a bit different. Kael let me serve him, and didn't fix the plate like before.

Small thing, but it meant a lot.

He was starting to accept me being there, helping him, and maybe even caring about him.

After dinner, I helped him get ready for bed.

He paused a bit when I brushed his hair, like he wasn't sure about it, but he didn’t pull away.

Letting me touch him, even for a second, was more important than anything he could have said.

“Goodnight, Kael,” I whispered as I tucked him in.

He waited a second, then said, quietly, like he was trying out the word, “Goodnight.”

My heart felt full.

That simple exchange was huge, even if it seemed small.

Kael had spoken without anyone asking him to.

He’d said something to me because he wanted to.

That was progress.

After leaving his room, I went back to mine, tired but happy.

Today was hard, but all those little wins made it worth it.

Kael was still quiet and kept to himself, but he was starting to let me in a little bit.

I thought about my dad and Ayla, and I felt determined.

This was why I was here—for them, and for Kael.

Every nod, every little bit of trust, showed that being patient and kind could break down even the strongest walls.

As I lay in bed, I promised myself I wouldn’t give up.

I'd keep watching, keep listening, keep respecting Kael, and keep showing him I cared without expecting anything back.

Slowly, I'd earn his trust, and maybe one day, he’d let me be more than just someone who's always around.

Because some feelings aren't about words.

They’re about being patient, paying attention, and being there, no matter what—even when it’s quiet all the time.

And in that quiet, I knew, little victories could mean more than words ever could.