The present ~ Eloise
The soft hum of Max’s breathing filled the room as I tucked the blanket under his chin. His small chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his cheeks flushed with the warmth of sleep. Every time I looked at him, gratitude surged through me—a gratitude I owed to Mike.
Mike’s sacrifice had been nothing short of heroic. He had stepped in to save Max when Lucian hadn’t even shown up. The thought still stung, but there was no time for resentment. Max needed me, and for weeks, I had poured everything I had into caring for him.
But tonight was different. Tonight, I felt a shift, a quiet reminder that it was time to refocus, to reclaim the pieces of myself I had left behind.
……
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows as I packed Max’s bag. His favorite toys, a co
