YS

to you, happy bi

partment. It was off-key and

xcitement as he stared at the cake

barely

he corner bakery. The frosting was cracked

... it wa

ng through the crooked smile he got f

n my throat down. "Of course it is,

said, leaning closer to Jason with

of excitement

father, but someti

er, every hospital run, every

he past three years now. He was

d sent to stand in for the

school sometimes when I was too busy to, bought him clothes from the thrift store, carried

s shut, made a wish, a

pretended for a second

ng him gently in the air. "Four years o

Noah, and Karla, Jason's friend who lives do

and happy. "Uncle Noah,

cake cost half of what I made in a week. The rent was already due. The hospital bill w

idn't know

ed to the wall and a can

d skipped lunch all we

d him, as I fought the tea

*

urned to me. "Hey," he said sof

son and his little friend Karla to w

usic for them to dance

hispered, his kind, hazel e

ed." My voice cracked before I could stop it. "S

gging a hand through h

I mutter

ips. "Crystal, he needs that surgery

nstantly regretted it. My voice softened. "I kno

o we do then? The surgery costs more than we'd make in two lifetimes. You'

ulling him in for a warm hug... The kind I'd never gi

my child pricks

w me as a friend or as a burd

y earnings on Jason. And at som

veryman. How much

up with something," I placed a hand on his

"You both are my family. It's not about w

Not much, but we could take him to the doctor tomorrow. Maybe there's anoth

sunshine." My voice softened at the nickname I was used to ca

we have to try. You never kno

d. The way he said it, the quiet desperation beh

se, and I felt my he

m away, we heard Jason's l

car we saw down the road the ot

kly pul

t's go get it now." Noah said awk

ring my throat. "He already got you a gif

oking between us

tarted, sha

gently. "I'll buy it fo

ed. "Karla!

mped happily as

ped ahead, and Noah turned back once to flash me th

ump too much, honey!" I called afte

, pressing a hand to my chest.

or every time he ran, or ev

new which breath

*

d the ti

2 p

gone for alm

g the chipped plates one by one. I told myself not to panic - they'd just g

heart woul

uck from the couch and pla

g to push down the knot of u

would never let any

gh

ed when a soft knoc

ze mi

knock f

ned. "

ans

bly them trying to mess with me. Noah had done that once before - p

iping my hands on a towel a

came. And this time

ugh the window - but I stopped myself. It had to be them. W

ou two think you're

and twisted it open. The hinges

the air left my lungs. And t

dn't b

n't eve

nd larger than life, was the one man I'd sp

anything to keep

n As