Liam’s POV
I took a deep breath. If Sienna were present, watching Noah’s running and his wide smile make her feel the same way as I do. Relieved, comforted and still shattered, knowing that it wasn’t enough to heal the wound in our child’s heart.
A smoky breeze carried the scent of damp grass. I brushed my face to release the weight of thoughts. This wasn’t the time to drown out regrets. Noah’s safety and ability to laugh without fear were of utmost importance.
Another bubble blew from the bench, and I watched it rise high before it fell. Noah glanced at me briefly and smiled, his cheeks still soaked in chocolate from the ice cream. That sight warmed my chest.
Time slipped by unnoticed. I watched Noah play with other kids on the bench, blowing bubbles? Both warmth and discomfort were present within me. I was pleased to see him smiling, but then a whisper in my mind suggested that Siennda might be present as well.
Her sitting beside me, she could see Noah’s laughter and smile. She softly grasped me, her gentle voice muttering about Noah’s rapid growth. In reality, I was the only person sitting beside me with an empty space.
My mind raced away as Noah called, “Daddy!”
With a frown and tears of laughter from the heat, he ran. “Come on out! Don’t just sit!”
Standing up, I held him. “Dad, of course.” He replied.
While running around the park, Noah made me laugh out loud whenever I appeared to be gasping for air and almost losing my cool. He ran while holding onto his robot, as if the toy was participating in the race too.
“Daddy lost!”
“Noah is the swiftest,” he exclaimed with emotion.
I curled up, rubbing his hair. “You’re the winner today, Noah.”
The sun’s rising caused a lighter heartbeat. As I watched Noah sit on the grass with bubbles, his eyes sparkled with pure happiness. Despite the absence of Sienna, I knew that there was a profound sense of purpose to my existence and why I had to persevere.
I was guided by the innocent smile of that little boy. My wish was to reunite Sienna in person so that we could experience moments like this once more. Noah’s smile was still present until now.
With a soft voice, Noah said softly, “Daddy, wondering if Mommy would be happy with us. What does that mean?”
After a brief glance, I nodded with ease and said, “yes, Noah. Mommy would be so happy.”
With a happy expression, he smiled, as if his answer had been enough. Despite its simplicity, I knew it was sufficient for me to hold on today.
The sun had started to set as I looked towards the west. What could it be? Noah was swift in his response as time
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passed. After soccer, we played and blew bubbles before sitting on the grass and enjoying some ice cream that I had bought him. It was a great day.
He laughed in my ears, and I smiled faintly. Due to running for an extended period, Noah appeared extremely content and had a red face. As he held his red robot with all his strength, as if it were a real hero that had been sitting in his arms for hours, I washed his forehead with my handkerchief.
“Slow down, sweetheart!”
My advice to him was to not get too tired, and I patted his small back.
Looking upward, Noah’s eyes were gleaming with excitement. “Daddy, it’ll be fun! Lots of friends. They like my robot too!”
I chuckled softly, relieved. Today, Noah may be able to forget his longing for Sienna for at least temporarily. I couldn’t help but feel happy because of the happiness in his eyes.
As I wandered around the park, I observed other children running with their parents as they scoured, heard faint street music from the side of the road, and smellemed of barbecued corn. The afternoon felt peaceful.
Noah, I pointed to a nearby vendor and inquired if we could have some grilled corn.
He flickered his own eyes once more. “Yes! But just one, Daddy. It’s possible for my robot to ingest food.”
With a smile on my face, I said: “Say no to robots, sweetheart. Let me have you in mind.”
We slowly made our way to the vendor? I ordered sweet roasted corn and sat on the grass to wait. I was suddenly sat in my lap as Noah put his cheek to my chest. It was as if his little body was starting to feel tired. Holding him like this made my heart beat a slow, steady rhythm within me.
The roasted corn arrived shortly after. I had to blow on it a few times to keep it from getting too hot, but Noah chewed into it with great enthusiasm. He eagerly fed, his tender hands smudged with seasoning. I watched him happily. Every now and then, he laughed and shaken his red robot as though it had been fed.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for this moment, knowing it was so precious. I wanted to remember it from every step of the way, so that when he was old enough, I could tell him about it.
The sun slowly sank, and Noah’s face was filled with the golden light, leaving him feeling tired but happy. With his hair a little tight, and the shirt stained with corn seasoning and ice cream. His smile, which was pure and innocent, was the most beautiful thing I saw today.
My hair was slicked gently. “Were you having a good time today, Noah?”
Nodding quickly, he said. “Mmm… daddy that was so much fun. Noah likes this park. The corn, ice cream, ball, bubbles, and bubble are the flavors I favor. I like everything!”
I chuckled and then gazed at the changing sky. There was remorse, but also pain. Sienna should have been here. With us. Noah’s mother was always smiling when things went wrong, and I wished for him to see her smile in such moments.
I could only hold onto that in my heart. Today, it was important for Noah to be happy.
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I felt his body sink a little deeper into my lap, and his eyes were growing uncontrollably.
“Daddy, Noah is worn out,” he whispered, his face flushes and his messy hair hangs over his head. He nodded in
agreement.
My cheek flicked, smoothing his head. “Ah, good morning Noah! Come back home. We’ll rest there, alright?”
With a slight nod, he held onto his red robot with all his strength. After getting him up, I held his hand as we walked towards the car. As he progressed, his steps became more difficult, but still managed to exude a slight smile.
Upon entering the car, Noah immediately curled up against the seat. I observed him from the car’s window, with his eyes half–closed.
I said softly that “Noah, put your seatbelt first.”
He used his small hand to pull it along at a leisurely pace, and I even held my pen against the wind.
The vehicle commenced moving out of the way. The city streets were relatively quiet that evening, with the sun’s warmth spreading through the windshield. With his eyes closed, Noah was seen embracing his robot against his chest in the rearview mirror.
I smiled faintly. His sleep always made me feel so amazed. The way he looked was so tranquil and innocent, almost as if nothing could compare to his happiness. He smacked in small breaths, with his face slightly to the side.
I softly reassured Noah that everything was okay, saying “Go to sleep, daddy.” He replied.
The ride home was quiet. I muttered, wondering if Sienna would now sit beside me and smile at the sight of Noah falling asleep. Her gaze might turn back in time. Perhaps she’d rest her head on my shoulder, enjoying the warmth of the small family I had longed for.
I didn’t realize it until I sighed deeply. Although there was still an unoccupied space, I felt grateful for today. I felt ecstatic when Noah laughed, was excited, and had such an easy time sleeping, at least temporarily.
The engine was turned off after the car parked in our driveway? I glanced at Noah, still sound asleep. Afterwards, I looked back at him. I was aware of the outcome, I would bring him inside and place him in his tiny sleeping bag.
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