#61

And instead of hearing that—

Oh…

It didn’t have to be said.

I already knew it would be followed by dots

and great disappointment.

But that wasn’t what came.

I heard him blurt out:

Woah!

It didn’t matter how many exclamation points

or question marks followed.

I was sure, by the tone of his voice—

He was amazed.

Not intrigued, not curious.

He was simply in awe.

I was already accepting the painful words

that would come after.

Even the sharp gaze

and the dismissive eye rolls.

Instead, I was met with a child,

with a dear, fragile, precious, youthful soul.

He found in me many wonderful things

I had ignored

and long since deemed trivial.

He saw me as amazing.

He saw me as wonderful.

He saw me as the greatest ever.

There was no façade in his voice.

I know—

because I’m him.

I never became what I wanted.

Yet—

Yet this child was happy.

He was happy for me…

for himself.

He will one day grow up to be me.

I regret to say he would.

I would’ve wanted to tell him

to never grow old,

yet it’s in his eyes that tells me

all I will ever need.

This child,

unaware,

forgave me.