Some people thought I was crazy for choosing to remain single and raise a toddler alone. But Leo grounded me in a way nothing else ever had. He gave my life purpose when I desperately needed one.
He was a quiet kid, thoughtful and serious in a way that sometimes made my chest ache. He’d sit for hours with his stuffed bunny, Fluffy, the one Nora had given him, holding it like it was the only solid thing in an unstable world.
Life stayed that way until I met Amelia three years ago.
He gave my life purpose when I desperately needed one.
She walked into the bookstore where I worked, carrying a stack of children’s books and wearing a smile that made the whole room feel warmer. We started talking about authors, then about childhood favorites, and then about life.
And for the first time in years, I felt something other than exhaustion and responsibility.
“You have a son?” she asked when I mentioned Leo.
“Yeah. He’s nine. It’s just the two of us.”
“You have a son?”