"Mommy, is someone bullying you?" He asked something I hadn't expected.
"Why do you ask?" My voice was rough.
"Because you looked really sad today." Kai lifted his head from my arms, looking at me seriously. "When you smiled, your eyes didn't curve up."
"No one's bullying Mommy." My heart softened. I touched his face. "It's just... some things need to change."
"What things?"
"Grown-up things." I didn't want to tell him too much. "But I promise to do my best for us. It's just... we might not have as many toys."
Kai looked at me, those silver eyes holding a seriousness beyond his years, then suddenly changed topics.
"Did the Little Prince go home in the end?"
"He did." I nodded. "Because he missed his rose."
"Will we come back?"
"Probably... not."
Kai didn't speak. I could feel him thinking, his small mind weighing something. Finally, he showed his signature smile with those little fangs.
"That's okay," he said. "The Little Prince went home because his rose was waiting there. But we don't have to come back, because..."
He patted my shoulder with his small hand. "Mommy is my rose. As long as I'm with Mommy, anywhere is fine."
I couldn't hold back the tears anymore, but I didn't want to cry in front of him. I hugged him tight, burying my face in his soft hair, hiding my sob.
"Kai..." My voice still carried that telltale thickness, and he caught it.
"Don't cry." Kai patted my back, his voice soft and young. "It scares me when Mommy cries."
"I'm not crying." I laughed through tears, refusing to admit it.
"Your voice sounds like crying."
"That's because I love you so much."
Kai smiled contentedly, nuzzling into my arms and pulling the blanket up to his chin.
"Mommy," he yawned, "can I bring my spaceship? I haven't finished building it..."
"Yes," I said gently. "You can bring whatever you want."
"My dinosaur collection, too?"
"Yes."
"All of them?"
"Maybe not all," I patted his back softly, "but your favorite ones, yes."
"Okay..." Kai yawned again, his eyes drooping. "Then tomorrow I have to pick which ones..."
His voice grew fainter and fainter until it disappeared completely. His small hand still clutched my pajamas, as if afraid I'd leave.
I watched his peaceful sleeping face—long lashes casting soft shadows on his cheeks, small nose, lips slightly parted, making little smacking sounds in his sleep.
