ESE

IZ

mmy hurts...a

d and wondered with great horror if those words came

now. That, too, while stuffing a m

am from the cup while rubbing his small tummy. "Why would you say something like that?

uring class that she won't be coming for the next three months

n't answer my quest

owned, licking at the spoon before ne

that. Pleas

nd that it must be hurting her so much that she had to take a leave. But then Johnny, the one who sits behind me, leaned

ead around the way the brains of these kids wo

ushing the chair back, I rounded the dining table and

ch. I thought about tellin

one forget the

ge! Don't

ave told me. We could have visited t

r, he was given a shot. And Joey hated shots more than he hated beans and cats. He once told me that cats were the devil's messengers (don't

on his Saturday night treat. This time he demanded to try the Unicorn Vanilla flavour. Speaking of which, I should get rid of any ice cream proof before his paren

ty creativ

my mouth. "Alright. Come on, I'll fetch you

re feet landing on the carpeted surface, no

leading me up the stairs. As if I were the one

we entered his room an

es

l like changing right now," he pouted, tur

ase let me know if it hurts too much. We don't need to go to t

hat's

what is

e water on Earth is drinkable? We must no

fucking nature. He would be vastly offended. He loved his earth and random facts he gathered from God kno

i

I gave him a serious look, and he nodded, relieved. "I'm going to b

ds aw

nd he bounced on his fe

e had finished the milk and slipped under the sheets. It took me

ind them. Laura had a keen eye for such details. Nothing could escape her hawk-like stare. It was surprising

dde

I scrolled through the swamp of texts from my neighbour and Peter (a guy from the building across, the

, got held up by some ol

drop you home. Thanks for tonigh

home right now. I contemplated whether or not to respond. But then I re

slept. Take your ti

when I heard a car pull u

ore either of them could ring the doorbell. Joey could have been startled. And as

er lovely smile as bright

school reunion for the entire past week. Daniel had shown his reluctance to attend the gathering, but seeing how excited Laura seemed, he pr

miss

I do

floats

g so bluntly honest. Couldn't it sometimes care about my feeling

ugh her hair before tossing her purse on the couch. It bounced a few t

. Can'

add and wish her good night, she

anny is coming tomorrow. And you know what she thinks about a babysitter and all...

cause no one else could understand their needs. Besides, it was necessary for the kid's good mental and emotional growth to have th

iefs were crappy, sometimes she ma

old-fashioned belief

a few errands to run anyway," I assured her a

ing outside. You should

ea

I depend too much on you but...you know,

mile, my chest warming from

-----

with a glass of wine in one hand and a phone in the o

was look through odd cat videos until I was exhausted enough to fall asleep. I didn't even have a profile picture. I di

hore at first. To keep my head down and maintain a boring profile. To avoid drawing unwelcome attention. I was afraid he'd find out and come looking f

eally left

just forgo

help

s. It was the time when his shadows would become t

was the one running away from him-hiding from him-but how difficult could it be for someone of his rank and p

he d

did

another woman he needed to warm his bed, I was equ

l that way, and mayb

might be tiresome and monotonous, and I might have a job that I hate with my guts, but