« Eat the whole thing, okay? » I said. « You’re growing. »
« You always say that. »
« Because it’s always true. »
He smiled then, just a small one, but it was enough to loosen something in my chest.
I kissed the top of his head and breathed him in.
He smelled like sleep and the cheap shampoo I had switched to last month.
« Go get dressed, mister. The bus comes in 20 minutes. »
He slid off the chair and disappeared down the hall.
I leaned against the counter and pressed both hands to my face, just for a moment, just long enough to remind myself that I could do this.
I could.
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