My blood ran cold. Who was Max, baby? Why was he hurting you?
I had to grab hold of your hands when you started clawing at your own arms. No, not clawing,I realised. You looked like you were trying to let go of someone's grip.
"Let me go, Max. I said no! Stop it, you're hurting me."You were sobbing now. I shook you awake, pleading:
"Wake up. Honey, please wake up!"
You finally stopped and opened your eyes. I thought you were fully awake, so I said, "Sssh, it's okay. You're okay now. Sssh..."
Then you went back to sleep. For the rest of that night, I was lying next to you, holding your hand and stroking your hair...
--- // ---
You looked completely different in the morning light. Gone were the frown and the tears from the night before. Had I imagined them all? You smiled at me while having your breakfast.
"Everything okay, Mommy?"
"What? Oh, yes."So I joined you for breakfast. Silence filled the room, mixed with our gulps and clanking of the spoons against the bowl.
After that, it was your time to leave again. The weekend was almost over. The weekdays were ahead. Time to start working again.